LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 



Chap.—_ _ Copyright No... 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Bible Characters 



V BY 

S. M. BURNHAM, M.A. 

Author of "Limestones and Marbles" "Precious Stones" "Struggles 
of the Nations" 2 Voluines ; " Pleasant Me??iories of For- 
eign Travel" " The Roman's Story" " Biograph- 
ical Sketches of So?ne Ancient People" 



ILLUSTRATED 



ERRARE EST HUMANUM 
IN SOLO DEO SALUS 



BOSTON 
A. I. BRADLEY & CO 



25406 



72771 






JUL 26 fM 

StCOW COPY. 

Ur**.«1 to 

©RGttf OWiSKJN, 




Copyright, 1900 
By A. I. Bradley & Co 



CONTENTS. 



CHAP. 




PAGE 


I. 


A Eomance .... 


. 9 


II. 


From Captivity to a Throne . 


22 


III. 


Royal Festivals .... 


. 34 


IV. 


Israel's Greatest Prophet 


52 


V. 


The Faithful Friend 


. 67 


VI. 


The Faithful Friend— Concluded 


78 


VII. 


The Kings of Judah 


. 89 


VIII. 


The Kings of Judah — Continued 


101 


IX. 


The Kings of Judah — Continued 


. Ill 


X. 


The Kings of Judah — Continued 


125 


XI. 


The Kings of Judah — Concluded 


. 140 


XII. 


The Kings of Israel 


151 


XIII. 


The Kings of Israel — Continued 


. 161 


XIV. 


The Kings of Israel — Concluded 


172 


XV. 


The Eloquent Orator 


. 181 


XVI. 


His First Missionary Journey 


193 


XVII. 


His Second Missionary Journey . 


. 213 


XVIII. 


New Fields of Labor . 


224 


XIX. 


New Fields of Labor — Concluded 


. 234 


XX. 


Missionary Excursions 


. 244 


XXI. 


An Appeal to Caesar 


. 268 


XXII. 


A Prisoner at Rome 


281 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



1. Kuth and Naomi. 

2. Triumph of Mordecai. 

3. Elijah in the Wilderness. 

4. Huldah and the Book of the Law. 

5. St. Stephen Preaching. 

6. St. John and St. Peter. 

7. St. Paul. 

8. Conversion of Paul. 

9. Paulus. 

10. Paul at Ephesus. 

11. Paul Preaching to the Thessalonians. 

12. Theatre of Dionysus at Athens. 

13. Athens from the East. 

14. A Building of Ancient Corinth. 






INTRODUCTION. 

The Sacred Scriptures are so comprehensive 
that they may justly be termed a " Library of 
Historical Information," especially in the depart- 
ment of biography, which is history, especially 
that of distinguished persons. They teach the 
" Brotherhood of Nations," and the unity of the 
human race in the fundamental qualities of hu- 
manity. Only a very brief record of the lives of 
a large part of Bible characters is given in the 
Scriptures, though their works and writings may 
have been abundant and comprehensive. 

In describing the career of different persons 
living at the same period, and actors in the same 
scenes, repetitions are sometimes unavoidable, 
while a description of the places where remark- 
able events occurred is presumed to render still 
more interesting both place and event. 

A more extended space has been given " The 
Eloquent Orator " than to any other character, 
for the reason that more is written about his 
labors than is given of others. 

The Scriptures have been the chief source of 
information, and have been, in some instances, 

7 



8 INTRODUCTION, 

almost literally reproduced in the following 
" Sketches," the main object being to arrange 
and classify the events in chronological order, 
and designate the position each prominent indi- 
vidual held. 



Bible Characters, 



A Romance. 



CHAPTER L 

A1ST INTERESTING STORY. 

From the earliest ages of the world to the 
present day, famines or the scarcity of provisions 
necessary for man and animals, have visited dif- 
ferent countries, causing great distress, and some- 
times the death of a large number of the inhab- 
itants of those regions visited by such calamities. 
War, famine, and pestilence are the fearful meth- 
ods often employed by the Supreme Ruler, to 
chastise nations and teach them the lesson that 
transgressions of His laws bring inevitable punish- 
ments, though the innocent suffer with the guilty 
in all national adversities, but in the future life, 
perfect justice will be administered to all. 

Those nations or communities that have never 
suffered from such a calamity as a famine, cannot, 

9 



10 



BIBLE CHARACTERS. 



of course, fully understand its horrors, but the 
imagination can picture scenes of intense suffering 
and dismay. Famines have, sometimes, been the 
means of effecting important national movements, 
as was the case in the history of the Israelites. 
At the close of the rule of the Judges of Israel, 
there occurred a famine in Palestine, that consti- 
tuted the foundation for the interesting story of 
Ruth the Moabitess. 

There lived in the town of Bethlehem, an 
Israelite of the tribe of Judah, named Elimelech 
with his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon 
and Chilion. This man was the owner of land, 
since each tribe and family had portions assigned 
them on the division of the conquered territory. 
While residing at Bethlehem, the country was 
visited by a famine, which caused great suffering. 
After their supply of provisions was exhausted, 
the people were greatly troubled, not knowing 
where to obtain food necessary to sustain life. 
Their flocks and herds were dying from hunger, 
and the people must soon perish, unless they could 
obtain provisions. The fruit trees had withered, 
therefore nothing could be expected from them. 
Little children were crying for bread, and mothers 
were liolding their helpless infants while suffering 
from weakness themselves. The whole region 
visited by the famine afforded some of the most 
pathetic scenes ever witnessed. 



A ROMANCE. 11 

At length the news came that the Moabites, 
their neighbors, had plenty of food, since the 
famine did not reach their land, therefore Elim- 
elech resolved to leave his own home with his 
family, and go to their country. Accordingly, 
they made preparations for their journey and a 
residence in a foreign land during the famine, still 
keeping possession of their house and land, expect- 
ing to return. 

They probably took with them such articles 
as they could carry, and the means of supplying 
their immediate wants. It is not certain how 
they travelled, but as the distance was not great, 
it was likely they journeyed on foot, and as 
Mahlon and Chilion were approaching man- 
hood, they could be of great assistance to their 
parents. 

When they came into the country of Moab, 
almost the first object that attracted their notice, 
was the lofty peak of Mount Nebo, a memorable 
place to an Israelite, since it formed the mauso- 
leum of their great lawgiver, who was buried 
by the angels of God. The scene as imagined, is 
beautifully described by Mrs. C. F. Alexander, in 
a poem on the Burial of Moses, beginning, 

"By Nebo's lonely mountain, 
On this side Jordan's wave 
In a vale in the land of Moab 
There lies a lonely grave : 



12 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

And no man dug that sepulchre, 

And no man saw it e'er 
For the ' Sons of God ' upturned the sod, 

And laid the dead man there," etc. 

The Moabites were the descendants of Moab, 
son of Lot, consequently were the kindred of the 
Israelites. The same was true of Ammonites; 
both nations settled east of the Jordan, the Am- 
monites north of the Moabites, whose capital city, 
situated on the river Arnon was known by sev- 
eral names ; as 1st Ar-Eabbah, 2d Kabbath-Moab, 
— 3rdArnon-Eabbah. The earlier inhabitants 
were giants called Emm, whom the Moabites con- 
quered. The Israelites during their exodus, were 
forbidden to attempt the conquest of the Moab- 
ites, but there were frequent wars between the 
two nations for a long time. The Moabites 
would not allow the emigrants to pass through 
their territory, on their journey to Canaan, 
neither would they supply them with food 
though- payment was offered for it. Both the 
Moabites and the Ammonites their kindred, Were 
idolaters, and sometimes offered their children as 
a burnt-sacrifice to their gods, whose worship 
was attended by gross immoralities. 

The prophecies concerning Moab are numerous 
and remarkable, and have been fulfilled. It was 
predicted that the nation would fall from its 
high estate on account of its wickedness. The 



A ROMANCE. 13 

country contained numerous populous cities, of 
which more than fifty have been located by ex- 
plorers, from their ruins, comprising the remains 
of temples and other buildings, constructed of 
stones of great size, and with columns measuring 
three feet in diameter, cisterns cut out of the 
rocks, hanging gardens and other remarkable 
works, affording proof that the Moabites had 
made great progress in some departments of the 
arts of an advanced civilization. The desolation 
of this ancient country must have surpassed hu- 
man conception. One prediction of the prophet 
is as follows : " O ye that dwell in Moab, leave 
the cities and dwell in the rock, and be like the 
dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the 
hole's mouth." 

Elimelech and Naomi, though living in an age 
when their country was ruled by judges, some of 
whom adopted the heathen practices of cotempo- 
rary nations, yet it is presumed they maintained 
their national religion taught them by Moses the 
distinguished lawgiver of their nation, therefore 
when emigrating to a pagan land, they did not 
forget their early training. It is probable that 
others of their countrymen removed to Moab, 
which was rich and fertile, on account of the 
famine in Palestine, and may have formed a so- 
ciety by themselves with priests to instruct 
them ; and perhaps some were inclined to accept 



14 BIBLE CHARACTERS, 

* 

the religion of the Moabites. It appears that the 
sons of Elimelech associated with them since 
both married Moabite wives, a practice not sanc- 
tioned by the laws of the Israelites, which forbade 
such alliances with heathen nations. 

During a residence of ten years in Moab, im- 
portant changes occurred in the family of Elime- 
lech and Naomi. Mahlon married Euth, and 
Chilion selected Orpah for his companion, both 
daughters of Moabites. Elimelech and both his 
sons died, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in- 
law without a protector. 

At length the report came that the famine had 
ceased in her native land, and that the harvests 
were abundant, therefore Naomi resolved to re- 
turn to her own country accompanied by her 
daughters-in-law whom she regarded with tender 
affection and sympathy, and who were ardently 
attached to her, as proved by their willingness 
to leave their kindred and native land and go 
with her to a foreign country. The three women 
started for Bethlehem in the land of Judah, but 
before proceeding far on their journey, Naomi 
told her companions it would be better for them 
to return to their home and friends, and leave 
her to go on alone, and giving them a parting 
kiss, she burst into tears and said, " The Lord 
deal kindly with you as ye have with me and 
the dead." 



A ROMANCE. 15 

They wept and replied : " Surely we will go 
with thee unto thy people," but Naomi urged 
them to return, when they expressed their grief 
in loud lamentations. Orpah, after kissing her 
mother-in-law, returned to her people and her 
gods, as it is expressed by the sacred historian, 
but Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, 
for where you go, I will go; thy people shall 
be my people, and thy God shall be my God. 
Where thou diest, I will die, and there will I be 
buried. The Lord do unto me and more also, if 
aught but death part thee and me." Naomi did 
not argue the question any longer, but yielded to 
the resolution of Kuth, and the two went on their 
journey until they came to Bethlehem. 

When they arrived at the city, the inhabitants 
were much surprised and inquired, "Is this 
Naomi ? " She replied, " call me not Naomi," 
(meaning pleasant) "but Marah," (bitter), "for 
the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me/ 
I went out full and the Lord hath brought me 
home again empty." 

It was at the beginning of the barley harvest 
when they arrived at Bethlehem. This harvest 
occurred about the middle of April, and after the 
barley was gathered, the wheat and some other 
grains were ready for the reapers, including the 
master, his children, menservants and maidserv- 
ants, beside hired laborers. While engaged in 



16 BIBLE CHARACTERS, 

their tasks, they expressed their joy for the 
harvest, by singing songs. The grain, after, being 
reaped, was gathered into bundles to be removed 
from the fields, but that which grew in the corners 
of the field, was left for the poor, and if a bundle 
was accidentally dropped by the reapers, it was 
left for the same reason. . 

There lived in Bethlehem a kinsman of Elime : 
lech, the husband of Naomi, a wealthy and hon- 
orable man, named Boaz — (meaning strength, 
firmness) and the owner of extensive fields of 
grain. He employed a large number of reapers 
over whom was placed one of the servants to 
watch and direct the others. 

Naomi, not having ample means for her sup- 
port, Ruth said to her, " Let me go to the fields 
and glean ears of corn," (that is barley), " after 
any reapers who will be favorable to me." Her 
mother-in-law replied, " Go, my daughter," show- 
ing the relation between them was tender. Ruth 
accordingly went to a field that belonged to 
Boaz, though she did not know who the owner 
was. She asked permission to glean and received 
a favorable answer, when she continued her 
labors from morning until evening, except at 
short intervals for meals. 

When Boaz, on a certain day, came from the 
city of Bethlehem, to look after his reapers, he 
saluted them as was his custom, saying, " The 



A ROMANCE. 17 

Lord be with thee," to which they replied, " The 
Lord bless thee." Seeing Ruth gleaning in the 
fields, he inquired who the damsel was, and re- 
ceived the answer that she was the Moabitess 
who came with Naomi. Boaz was pleased with 
the young woman and addressing her as, "my 
daughter," said, "do not go to any other field, 
but remain near my maidens, and when you are 
thirsty drink of the water my young men have 
drawn, and I have given them orders not to inter- 
fere or offer you any insult." When Ruth heard 
these words of kindness she bowed low and said, 
" Why have I found grace in thine eyes, seeing I 
am a stranger ? " and of a different nation, she 
might have added. 

Boaz, it appears, had learned something of 
Ruth's history. He said, " It has been explained 
to me about j^our attachment to your mother- 
in-law, and of your leaving your father, mother, 
and native land, and coming to live with a people 
who are strangers to you. The Lord God of 
Israel reward thee." Ruth replied, " Let me find 
favor in thy sight, for thou hast comforted me 
by thy kind words," etc. Boaz told her to come 
and take her meals with his reapers, when he 
gave her parched corn, that is barley or wheat. 
After she had gone to resume her gleanings, the 
master gave orders to his reapers, to allow her to 
glean among the sheaves, and to scatter some of 



18 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

the grain for her to gather. She gleaned until 
evening and beat out the grain comprising about 
an ephah, which she carried to the city and gave 
to her mother-in-law who inquired, "Where hast 
thou gleaned to-day ? Blessed be he that did 
care for thee." Kuth told her the man's name 
was Boaz. " He is near kindred to us," replied 
Naomi. "He wished me to glean in his field 
until the end of the harvest," said Kuth. Her 
mother-in-law approved of this plan which was 
followed. 

The epha or ephah referred to in this narrative, 
was a measure equal to about one and four-ninths 
of an English bushel, and was used for both dry 
and liquid substances. For the dry it contained 
three pecks and three pints ; for liquids, it was 
equal to seven gallons and four pints. 

Naomi arranged a plan for her daughter-in- 
law's future career as follows. She said, " Boaz 
winnows barley to-night in the threshing-floor. 
Now take a bath with a fragrant ointment, then 
dress in a neat attire and go to the threshing- 
floor, but do not make yourself known. After 
the master has feasted and lain down to rest, 
notice the place, then go and uncover his feet 
and lie down, when he will tell you what to do." 
Ruth said she would follow her directions. 

When Boaz had feasted and "his heart was 
merry," as it is expressed, he lay down at the 



A ROMANCE. 19 

end of a heap of grain. Euth came softly, un- 
covered his feet and lay down. This was not per- 
ceived by Boaz who had, doubtless, become stupe- 
fied from the effect of wine, but about midnight, 
after he had recovered his senses, he discovered 
to his fear and amazement, a woman reposing at 
his feet. He demanded, " Who art thou ? " She 
replied, "I am Ruth, thy kindred. Spread thy 
skirt over me, for thou art a near kinsman." He 
said, " Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter, 
for thou hast shown more kindness even than 
thou didst in the beginning, inasmuch as thou 
didst not follow young men whether poor or 
rich. Now, my daughter, fear not. I will do all 
thou requirest, for every one knows thou art a 
virtuous woman. It is true, I am thy kinsman, 
still there is another who is a nearer kindred 
than I am. To-morrow the question will be 
settled, which one shall perform the duty of a 
kinsman. Lie down until morning." 

Euth obeyed and waited until early in the 
morning before any one could be clearly seen, for 
Boaz did not wish it to be known that a woman 
came into the floor. He said to Ruth, "Bring 
the vail thou hast and hold it," when he gave her 
six measures of barley. Boaz then returned to 
the city, and Euth came to her mother-in-law 
and related the adventures of the night. Naomi 
said, "Wait until it is known how the matter 



20 



BIBLE CHARACTERS. 



will end, for the man will not rest until it is 
settled." 

Early in the morning Boaz went to the gate of 
the city and sat down to wait for the kinsman re- 
ferred to, whose name is not mentioned. He, 
however, soon appeared, to whom Boaz said, 
" Ho ; stop and sit down, for I have a message 
for you." He obeyed the summons and sat down 
to hear the news. Ten elders of the city had 
been invited to be present as witnesses at the con- 
ference which was to settle the question. Boaz 
then addressed this kinsman of Naomi, saying, 
" That she had returned from the country of 
Moab and had sold a piece of land that had be- 
longed to our brother Elimelech. I- wish to say, 
in the presence of these witnesses, buy the land if 
thou wilt, but if thou wilt not redeem it, tell me, 
and I will do so, but if you buy the real estate of 
Naomi, you must accept in marriage Buth the 
Moabitess, the young widow of Mahlon, the son 
of Elimelech." The kinsman said, " I cannot re- 
deem the land lest I injure my own inheritance," 
and then, as was the custom in Israel in those 
days, he took off his shoe or sandal, and gave it 
to his neighbor, and said to Boaz that he was at 
liberty to purchase the estate, when the latter ad- 
dressed the people assembled at the gate, saying, 
"Ye are witnesses that I have purchased of 
Naomi this day all that belonged to Elimelech 



A ROMANCE. 21 

and his sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and I have also 
purchased Euth, the widow of Mahlon, for my 
wife, that the name of the dead may be perpetu- 
ated, as ye are witnesses this day." The people 
said, "We are witnesses. The Lord make this 
woman like Eachel and Leah among the Israel- 
ites, and may you be famous in Bethlehem, and 
may your posterity, the descendants of Judah, be 
prospered." 

Boaz, who, it is presumed, had no family at 
this time, married Euth the Moabitess, who be- 
came the mother of Obed, the father of Jesse, 
whose son was David, king of Israel. When the 
child was born, Naomi's countrywomen congrat- 
ulated her, saying, " Blessed be the Lord who has 
not left thee without a kinsman whose name may 
become- famous in Israel. He will be unto thee 
a comforter in thine old age. Thy daughter-in- 
law is better than seven sons." Naomi took the 
babe in her arms, and became its nurse. 

The exact period when the events of this inter- 
esting story occurred is not positively known, but 
it has been estimated at about 1250 b. c. Some 
writers have expressed the opinion that the de- 
scent of the Messiah from a Gentile through the 
line of David, is an intimation of the compre- 
hensive nature of the Christian dispensation. 



From Captivity to a Throne. 



CHAPTEK II. 

AN ANCIENT PEOPLE. 

Persia, called by the natives Iran, the original 
home of the Aryan race, is a country that has 
survived great political changes and desolating 
wars for more than 2,500 years, and still exists as 
one of the leading nations of Asia. Modern Persia 
extends 900 miles from east to west, and 700 from 
north to south, and has an area of about 648,000 
square miles. It consists largely of an elevated 
table-land covered, in some places, with moun- 
tains, and abounds with salt lakes, many of which 
have no visible outlets. The chief of these is 
Lake Urumiah, in the northern region. The 
heat in autumn is excessive, but in summer the 
climate is more tolerable, while in winter and 
spring it is delightful. The native settlers consist 
chiefly of the Tajihs, descendants of the ancient 
Persians, with an intermixture of foreign blood. 
The nomads or pastoral tribes comprise four dis- 
ss 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 23 

tinct races, while a small number, perhaps 25,000, 
are Christian and 15,000 are Jews. The entire 
population numbers between 4,000,000 and 5,000,- 
000. Silk is the staple production of the country, 
and the government is a pure depotism, while 
the sovereign, styled Shah,- exercises absolute 
authority over the lives and affairs of his subjects ; 
and the dominant religion is that of Mahomet. 

Elementary education is very generally diffused 
among all classes, and there are a large number of 
colleges where students are instructed in the Mo- 
hammedan religion, and in Persian and Arabic 
literature. Both the ancient and modern lan- 
guages of Persia belong to the great class of 
Indo- Germanic. The literary life of the Persians 
began in the ninth century, a. d., and continued 
to flourish for five centuries. During this period, 
there were numerous writers in various depart- 
ments of learning, including poets, the most dis- 
tinguished of whom was Hafiz, styled the " Sugar- 
Lip " ; but after him, Persian poetry began to 
decline. The historians form an important class, 
while there are only a few writers on science. 
Theological works are mainly translations from 
the Koran. 

The architecture of this ancient country is of 
considerable interest, on account of its resem- 
blance to the Assyrian and Egyptian, the earliest 
architecture of which we have any positive 



24 4 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

knowledge. The buildings of ancient Persia were 
constructed of material similar to that used by 
the Assyrians. The ruins of the splendid palaces 
of Cyrus and Cambyses at Pasargardse still exist, 
and Persepolis, the capital of Darius and Xerxes 
(560-523 b. a), Susa, Ecbatana, and Teheran con- 
tain ancient ruins. 

The halls of the buildings at Persepolis were 
square with an equal number of pillars on every 
side for the support of the roof which was flat. 
In the centre was an opening to admit light, 
sheltered by another roof on pillars. The re- 
mains of Persian and Assyrian palaces, may il- 
lustrate the style of architecture employed in the 
royal buildings of David and Solomon. 

The scarcity of wood in oriental countries, had 
an influence upon architecture, where bricks or 
stone were used instead. The Saracenic style 
originated in the seventh century, a. d., and soon 
extended from Persia to the ocean. The creed 
of Mohammed forbade the use of painting and 
sculpture, therefore there was a style of architec- 
ture developed peculiar to his system. The 
houses of the higher classes were usually built in 
a hollow square. The private apartments were 
on three sides, while the fourth was on the street, 
with a gate, and intended for the use of the serv- 
ants. The plan of having the front of the 
house towards the street, would be an infringe- 



FB03I CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 25 

ment on the privacy of oriental domestic life. 
The windows opened upon the interior court 
which was adorned by plants and furnished with 
fountains. Some houses had two or three courts, 
communicating with one another. The house- 
tops were an important feature, and were used 
for various purposes. Besides the windows open- 
ing upon the interior of the court, there were 
also those projecting from the building, and fre- 
quently overhanging the street, while another 
peculiarity of oriental architecture, was the 
kiosk or open summerhouse, supported on pil- 
lars. 

The better class of houses were built of stone 
comprising marble, and were profusely orna- 
mented with rich velvet hangings of bright colors 
supported on hooks, and could be removed at 
pleasure. The upper part of the wall was 
adorned with figures in stucco, with gold, silver, 
gems, and ivory, hence the expression "ivory 
houses," referred to in the Scriptures. In the 
time of the Prophet J.eremiah, these chambers 
were ceiled with costly and fragrant wood painted 
in the richest colors. The Persians were ac- 
customed to use marble very freely in their 
buildings, as the ruins of Persepolis prove. The 
Book of Esther suggests the same idea. The 
kitchen was always in the interior court, where 
the women-servants performed their labors, some- 



26 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

times assisted by the ladies of the family. 
These kitchens were not supplied with fireplaces, 
but the cooking was done by the use of charcoal 
in braziers, though wood fires were sometimes 
made in the open court. 

There were, usually, no doors to the rooms of 
eastern dwellings, but the openings were closed by 
curtains, and the windows were latticed, as glass 
was not used, or they were closed by shutters 
with openings for light. When there was no up- 
per story, the rooms were usually higher, in 
most oriental countries, but in Persia they are 
open from top to bottom. 

The ancient religion of the Persians originated 
with Zoroaster, the author of the Zend-Avesta, 
and a reformer of the Magian system. The 
work ascribed to him contained his pretended 
revelations which the early Magians and later 
Parsees reverenced as Christians do the Sacred 
Scriptures. The Zend or Zend-Avesta teaches 
the doctrine of a Supreme Being, eternal and 
self-existent, the Creator of all material things, 
and of light and darkness, between which a con- 
flict exists and will continue to exist until the 
end of tl^e world. He taught that there will be 
a general judgment when a just retribution will be 
administered to every one according to his works, 
and the angel of darkness with his followers 
will be consigned to everlasting punishment and 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 27 

the angel of light with his associates will be ad- 
mitted to everlasting light and happiness. 

It is evident that these doctrines were copied, 
with some modifications, from the Sacred Scrip- 
tures. 

The name Zoroaster signifies chief, senior, and 
high priest, common designations for a spiritual 
guide. He was a native of Bactria, a region in 
the vicinity of the Hindu- Kush mountains, but 
there is little authentic history of his life. The 
Zend was the language in which the sacred 
books of Zoroaster were written. After the Ara- 
bian conquest, in the seventh century, A. D., the 
Mohammedan faith became the state religion 
and still maintains its supremacy, in Persia. 
Christianity was early introduced into this coun- 
try, when terrible persecutions followed, begin- 
ning in 330 A. D., and in forty years, more than 
16,000 suffered martyrdom. 

Magi was a name given to the order of priests 
and religious teachers among the Medes and 
Persians, and was derived from a word signifying 
priest. There is, however, proof that this class 
existed among other Eastern nations, especially 
the Chaldeans, but in classical literature, they 
are almost exclusively connected with Persian 
history. Herodotus represents them as constitut- 
ing one of the tribes among the Medes, and very 
influential in the government of the Median Em- 



28 



BIBLE CHARACTERS. 



pire. They became so powerful in Persia, that 
on the death of Cambyses, they attempted to 
overthrow the Persian dynasty and appoint one 
of their number, king. The defeat of this plot 
by Darius was followed by a general massacre 
of the Magi, but the fall of the Persian Empire 
was favorable to them and they appear in history 
again, during the later Roman Empire, and the 
commencement of the present era. It is said 
that Zoroaster taught his creed to the Magi 
whom he divided into three classes — learners, 
masters, and perfect scholars. They alone could 
teach the truths and perform the ceremonies of 
religion, foretell future events, interpret dreams 
and omens, and ascertain the will of Ormuzd, by 
acts of divination. Ormuzd was the good prin- 
ciple of the Magi whose symbol was light, and 
who was the author of all good. Their forms of 
worship were strictly defined, and were handed 
down to the Magi by traditions. They appear 
to have been the sole possessors of all the science 
of their age, and to be instructed in their learn- 
ing was esteemed the highest privilege, and al- 
lowed, with rare exceptions, to none except 
princes and the royal family. Their learning be- 
came celebrated at an early period in Greece, 
and was the subject of speculation to the philoso- 
phers, but the ignorant were imposed upon by 
their tricks and high pretensions. Besides being 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 29 

priests and men of learning, the Magi appear to 
have exercised judicial power. 

The early inhabitants of Persia comprised 
nomadic tribes of the Indo-European stock who 
called themselves by a name signifying noble or 
honorable, applied especially to the followers of 
Zoroaster. According to Herodotus, they were 
divided into three classes : first, the nobles and 
warriors'; second, the agricultural and other set- 
tlers ; third, the nomadic tribes. 

The Persians bore a close affinity to the Medes 
and followed the same customs and religion, 
though their simple habits preserved them from 
the corrupt influences that caused the degeneracy 
of the Medes, when they obtained the supremacy 
under Cyrus, the founder of the great Persian 
Empire, B. c. 559. But little is known of the 
authentic history of Persia before this date. The 
capital cities were Pasargardas and Persepolis. 

The most prominent rulers of ancient Persia 
were Cyrus the Great, Cambyses, Darius L, 
Xerxes I., Artaxerxes I. (Longimanus), Xerxes 
II., Darias IL, Artaxerxes II. (Mnemon), Arta- 
xerxes III., Darius III. (Codomannus), whose 
successive reigns extended from 559 to 331 B. c, 
when the ancient kingdom of Persia closes. The 
natives date their independence from the over- 
throw of the Parthian Empire, after it had con- 
tinued 476 years. 



30 



BIBLE CHARACTERS. 



Artaxerxes is the name of four Persian kings 
one of whom Artaxerxes Longimanus, who 
reigned 465-425 B. a, is supposed by some 
writers, to have been the Ahasuerus of the Scrip- 
tures who occupied the throne in the time of 
Esther and Mordecai. Different reasons have 
been given for his cognomen — Longimanus — 
Longhanded. He was the son of Xerxes I. His 
reign was disturbed by insurrections and wars 
with other nations, including the Greeks, in which 
he was defeated both on land and sea, and was 
forced to conclude a peace favorable to his an- 
tagonist. 

Artaxerxes II., of Persia, received the surname 
of Mnemon, on account of his remarkable mem- 
ory. He was the son of Darius II., and reigned 
405-359 B. c. His kingdom was imperilled by a 
revolt of Gyrus his younger brother who was 
killed in a battle 401 B. c. Artaxerxes III., 359- 
338 b. c, began his reign by the murder of all 
the members of his family to avoid any rivals, 
but he was poisoned and was succeeded by his son. 

The Ahasuerus of the Scriptures, the sovereign 
who ruled Persia in the time of Esther, has been 
represented as different persons, but Josephus 
and some other writers, believe he was identical 
with Artaxerxes Longimanus. Some historians 
have supposed his mother was a Jewess, a de- 
scendant of Saul, king of Israel, and the favor 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 31 

this prince showed the Jews, confirms the opinion 
though there are no historical proofs of it. 

Ecbatana, a city of Media on Mount Orontes 
and enclosed by seven walls, is said to contain 
the tombs of Mordecai and Esther, though it is 
supposed by some writers, that their graves were 
in Hamadon. Artaxerxes Longimanus received 
his name on account of his long hands, and he was 
reported to have b^en the handsomest man of his 
time. He was a conqueror, and subdued Meso- 
potamia and Syria, captured Babylon and placed 
Cyrus on the throne. 

Another theory in regard to Ahasuerus is, that 
he was identical with Darius Hystaspis, and that 
Yashti, named Alossa was his wife, and that 
Esther was called Artystana, but these views are 
not generally accepted. Haman, the prime minis- 
ter of Ahasuerus, is represented in the Book of Es- 
ther as belonging to the race of A gag a common 
name for the princes of Amalek. Instigated by 
jealousy, he secured the king's decree for the exter- 
mination of the Jews. It seems almost incredible 
that a sovereign, without any reasonable cause, 
should order the massacre of a large part of his 
subjects, comprising a whole nation, but such a 
brutal outrage has its parallel in later times, as 
in the history of the Greeks, during a war be- 
tween Turkey and Kussia in 1770, though the 
decree of Hassan Pasha was not executed. 



32 BIBLE CHARACTERS. ' 

Ahasuerus was a powerful and luxurious 
prince whose dominions extended from India to 
Ethiopia, comprising 127 provinces. The winter 
residence of the king was Shush an or Susa, 
which received its name, probably, from the 
abundance of lilies it yielded. It was sheltered 
from the northeast winds by a ridge of mountains, 
but in the summer the heat was so intense that 
the inhabitants were compelled to cover the flat 
tops of their dwellings with earth. The city was 
highly embellished by Ahasuerus, and it was 
here the Prophet Daniel had his vision of the 
ram and goat. The Jews, in honor for the great 
favors shown their nation by this Persian king, 
named the eastern gate of their temple Shushan, 
and had a representation of the city carved on it. 
Susa was conquered by Alexander the Great, 
though it still exists under the name of Valdek. 
It is said to contain the tomb of Daniel. 

Ecbatana was a city of Media and next to 
Nineveh and Babylon, was one of the strongest 
and most beautiful cities of the East. After 
Media was united to Persia, it became the summer 
residence of the Persian kings. Here are sup- 
posed to be the tombs of Mordecai and Esther, 
covered by a dome with inscriptions in Hebrew. 
This city was surrounded by seven walls of un- 
equal height, and it still exists under the name of 
Hammedon. 



^ 

V 






£>- 




FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 33 

The Jews had been conquered by Nebuchad- 
nezzar, their capital destroyed and the nation 
transported to Babylon as captives where they 
remained until the conquest of the city by 
the Persians, when many of them were taken to 
Persia where they were allowed greater liberties, 
and some of them were promoted to official po- 
sitions in the Empire. Among these captive 
Jews was Mordecai whose history is intimately 
connected with that of Esther, the heroine of the 
story. He was the son of Jair, of the tribe of 
Benjamin, and cousin to Hadassa, the Jewish 
name of Esther, whose parents died when she 
was a child. Mordecai adopted the young 
orphan as his own daughter and performed the 
duties of a parent. She was a beautiful and an 
attractive child, qualities that had a powerful in- 
fluence in her future career. Her protector, 
undoubtedly, carefully trained her in the re- 
ligion of her nation which, at a heathen court, 
she never forgot or neglected, it is presumed. 



CHAPTEE III. 

ROYAL FESTIVALS. 

Ahasuerus, the king of Persia, after reigning 
two years, entertained his subjects by sumptuous 
festivals. The first banquet was given to the 
princes, nobles, the rulers of the 127 provinces of 
his empire, and the court officials, at his winter 
palace in Shushan, and continued six months, 
when the glory, magnificence and power of the 
sovereign were witnessed by his admiring guests. 
After the festival of the princes, nobles and court 
officers ended, the king gave a feast to the com- 
mon people in the court of the garden of his 
palace at Susa, which continued seven days, and 
was attended by all the magnificence displayed at 
the festival of the princes and nobles. 

The court with its tessellated pavement of red, 
white, blue and black marbles, its pillars of 
marble with green, blue, and white tapestries 
fastened with cords of linen to silver rings, gold 
and silver couches, gold drinking vessels all dif- 
ferent from one another, exhibited the splendor 
and magnificence of the Persian court. The 
freedom of the guests, each one being allowed to 

34 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 35 

do as lie pleased, enhanced the pleasure of the 
feast. These enjoyments were not confined to 
the men alone, for Vashti the queen, made a feast 
for the women of the palace. Some of the 
princes were present at the feast given to the 
common people. 

The king, under the influence of wine, probably, 
attempted to infringe upon an established custom, 
by commanding the queen to appear at the feast 
for the men, wearing the royal crewn. He sent 
his chamberlains to conduct her to his presence, 
that the princes and people might admire her 
beauty. Vashti refused to go and become the 
object of wonder to the intoxicated courtiers. 
The king was exceedingly angry that the queen 
should presume to disobey his orders. What 
ought to be done about it, since the queen's re- 
fusal was publicly known? 

Ahasuerus had, for his advisers, seven princes of 
Persia and Media, who understood the laws and 
judged cases, and who were next to the king in 
power, and were his counsellors. He asked them 
what punishment ought to be administered to the 
disobedient queen, according to the laws. 

Memucan, one of the princes, replied, " The 
queen had not only done wrong to the king, but 
also to the princes and all the people in the 
provinces of Ahasuerus for, when it is fully un- 
derstood that his authority in his household has 



36 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

been set aside, all the women in his dominions 
will despise their husbands, and there will be 
serious trouble. If agreeable to the king, let him 
issue a royal decree and have it written among 
the laws of the Medes and Persians which cannot 
be changed, that Vashti be divorced, and another 
wife superior to her, be chosen queen. Then 
after the decree is known throughout the king's 
dominions, all wives will honor their husbands, 
from the highest to the lowest ranks." 

The advice of Memucan pleased his Majesty, 
who sent letters into all the provinces, written in 
the different languages used by the people, that 
every man should rule his own house, a right 
usually claimed in all countries and in all ages. 
Not until the queen was legally divorced was the 
wrath of the king appeased, but it is probable that 
after the effects of his dissipation had passed 
away, he thought of his beautiful queen with re- 
gret, and blamed his counsellors for the rash step 
he had taken, therefore his servants, to calm his 
feelings and make him forget his domestic trouble, 
advised him to choose another queen to take the 
place of Vashti. They recommended that a num- 
ber of beautiful young maidens be selected from 
the women of his kingdom by officers in all the 
provinces of the empire, and conducted to Shushan, 
to be placed in the palace for the women, under 
the custody of Hege, the king's chamberlain and 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 37 

overseer of the females, and that such articles be 
given them as were needed in their preparations 
for royal honors, such as oil of myrrh, sweet odors 
and other articles. Each maiden went in the 
evening to the royal palace and returned to the 
house of the women, under the care of the king's 
chamberlain, but did not go again unless called 
by name. 

When Esther, the Jewish maiden, was called 
to go to the king, she followed the directions of 
Hege, and when Ahasuerus saw the beautiful 
girl, he was fascinated, and without inquiring 
about her nationality, he chose her to succeed 
Vashti, and placed the royal crown upon her 
head. He then gave a feast to his princes and 
servants and conferred special favors and gifts 
upon his guests. Following the advice of Mor- 
decai, Esther had not revealed her nationality. 
This friend of the young girl was her cousin, but 
adopted the orphan child as his own. He was 
taken a captive to Babylon, probably when young, 
and after the overthrow of the city by the Per- 
sians he went to Shushan, and in the first year 
of Cyrus, it is supposed he returned to Jerusalem 
with other Jewish captives, and then went back 
to Persia, and became the adviser of his relative 
after her promotion to the Persian throne. By 
refusing to pay homage to Haman, the king's 
prime minister, Mordecai incurred the enmity of 



38 BIBLE CRABACTEBS. 

that official and imperilled the lives of all the 
Jews throughout the empire. 

The question is suggested, Why did Mordecai 
refuse to respect the king's prime minister ? It 
has been thought that the reverence given to 
Haman was similar to divine homage, such as 
was sometimes addressed to Persian monarchs, 
which would be regarded by the Jews idolatrous. 

After the promotion of Esther, her adopted 
father was accustomed to w^alk before the court 
of the women's house to gain some intelligence 
from the queen. To inquire what occurs in the 
harem of an Eastern monarch is considered a 
crime, and one might pass by the court of the 
women's palace day after day without gaining 
any intelligence about what takes place within, 
and from what Mordecai told Esther in regard to 
the massacre of the Jews, namely, " Think not 
that thou shalt escape in the king's house more 
than all the Jews," it is presumed that crimes 
were sometimes committed there. It was certain 
that Haman would cause the death of the queen, 
being a Jewess, even in the harem. 

While Mordecai was sitting one day in the 
king's gateway, an event occurred that had an 
influence upon his subsequent career. This was 
the discovery of a plot, by two of the king's 
chamberlains, namely, Teresh the porter, and Big- 
thana, to assassinate Ahasuerus. How the con- 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 39 

spiracy was discovered is not related, but Morde- 
cai informed Esther of the contemplated crime, 
and she told the king. The intended assassins 
were arrested, found guilty and hanged, and a 
report of the affair was registered in the Book of 
the Chronicles belonging to the king. 

After the discovery of the plot and the punish- 
ment of the criminals, the king promoted Hainan 
to the highest office in the government next to 
the sovereign himself, and commanded all his 
subjects to pay him homage ; but Mordecai re- 
fused to comply with the royal edict, therefore 
the people at the gate inquired why he did not 
obey the king's command. This question they 
repeated daily, but as Mordecai continued to 
maintain his position, they informed Haman, 
when his anger was aroused, and he resolved to 
have his revenge. Scorning the idea of securing 
the punishment of only one of the Jews whom he 
hated, he would, if possible, destroy the whole 
race scattered throughout the kingdom of Ahas- 
uerus. This was in the twelfth year of his reign. 
The day for the massacre was to be decided by 
casting lots, which they continued to do day by 
day, and month by month, for a year, before the 
question was decided. This was probably due to 
the superstition in ancient times that some days 
were more favorable than others for the success 
of any undertaking, therefore Haman tried by 



40 BIBLE CHABACTJEBS. 

divination to ascertain the time most favorable 
for the accomplishment of his fearful tragedy. 
This was providential, since it gave Mordecai and 
Esther an opportunity to defeat the conspiracy. 

Hainan's argument before the king for the 
execution of his criminal purpose was, in sub- 
stance, as follows : " There is a certain people 
throughout the province of thy kingdom, whose 
laws are different from those of the king, and 
who do not obey your Majesty's commands, hence 
it is not for the king's advantage to allow them 
to exist ; therefore, if it pleases the king,, let 
there be a decree issued for their destruction." 
Ten thousand talents of silver were to be paid 
by Haman, into the royal treasur}^, for the exe- 
cution of the decree. Ahasuerus took off his 
ring and gave it to Haman, as a pledge that his 
request should be granted. The king told him 
that the silver and the persons for executing the 
order, were given to him to do as he wished. 

The king's scribes were called to prepare the 
written proclamation according to Hainan's re- . 
quest, addressed to all the lieutenants, gover- 
nors of the provinces, and rulers of the nations 
in their own language, and in the name of King 
Ahasuerus, and sealed with his ring. The letters 
were sent by posts into all the provinces, to de- 
stroy all the Jews, young and old, women and 
little children, on the thirteenth day of the 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 41 

twelfth month — Aclar — and to take the spoils. 
The copy of the writing was published, that the 
people might be ready on that day to execute 
the royal command. The decree was given at 
Shushan and the posts were hastened to circu- 
late it. 

The king and Hainan were so well pleased 
with their deed, that they indulged in a feast of 
wine, but the city of Shushan was much per- 
plexed at the royal decree. There were, prob- 
ably, some Persians who deplored the cruel 
order, regarding it as impolitic without refer- 
ence to race prejudices. They, perhaps, feared 
it might cause a general revolt throughout the 
vast empire, while there may have been others 
who were pleased, on account of jealousy, that 
the hated race was to be exterminated. 

When Mordecai heard of the king's decree, he 
was greatly distressed, and clothed himself with 
sackcloth, used with ashes, emblems of deep 
mourning, and went through the streets of the 
city weeping and uttering loud lamentations. 
He came to the king's gate in that condition, 
but no one was allowed to enter clothed in sack- 
cloth. There were great mourning, fasting, and 
weeping among the Jews, in every province 
where the royal command was known, and 
many of the doomed people lay in sackcloth 
and ashes day and night. 



42 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Esther's maids and chamberlains came and 
told her of the king's decree, which had been 
kept secret from her. She was exceedingly 
grieved, but she did not wish to have Mordecai 
clothed in sackcloth, therefore she sent him rai- 
ment to wear instead, but he would not. make 
the change. Then she sent Hatach, one of the 
king's chamberlains who had been appointed to 
attend the queen, to inquire what was the cause 
of his grief. 

When Hatach, the queen's attendant, came to 
Mordecai in the street leading to the king's gate, 
he was informed of the particulars of the royal 
decree, and the sum of money Haman had paid 
into the king's treasury- for the destruction of the 
Jews, and he gave the queen's chamberlain a 
copy of the writing for their massacre, and told 
him to urge Esther to go to the king and make 
supplication for her people. 

Hatach delivered the message, when she sent 
her servant again to Mordecai, to remind him 
that it was a law throughout the Persian Empire, 
that whoever, man or woman, ventured to come 
into the royal presence without being called, 
should be put to death, unless the king held out 
the golden sceptre as a sign that he was par- 
doned for the offence, " and," said Esther, " I 
have not been called to appear at court, for 
thirty days." Mordecai returned answer that she 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 43 

must not expect to escape more than other Jews, 
and if she kept silence, deliverance would come 
to them from other sources, while thou and thy 
father's house will perish. He then adds, " Who 
knoweth but thou art come to the kingdom for 
such a time as this ? " 

When Esther heard the message of Mordecai, 
she said, " Tell him to call together all the Jews 
at Shushan and fast for me three days and nights 
and I and my maidens will also fast ; then I will 
go to the king, though it is not according to 
law, and if I perish, I perish." After three days 
of fasting, Esther put on her royal robes, and 
going to the palace, she took a position in the 
court, while the king was sitting upon his throne. 
She had taken her life in her hands for the pur- 
pose of pleading for her doomed countrymen. — 
Her loveliness excited the interest and sympathy 
of Ahasuerus, who immediately held out the 
golden sceptre when she drew near and touched 
the royal emblem. " What is thy request, Queen 
Esther? It shall be granted thee to the half of 
my kingdom." She replied, "If it please thee, 
come with Haman to a banquet which I have 
prepared for you." 

Haman was very proud of the honor paid him, 
as a guest of the queen in company with the 
king ; but when he saw Mordecai at the king's 
gate who did not bow down to pay him homage, 



44 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

he was exceedingly angry, and returning to his 
home, he called for his friends and Zeresh, his 
wife, and told them of his glory, and wealth, and 
that the king had promoted him above all the 
princes and servants of his kingdom. Moreover, 
the queen had invited him only, with the king to 
a banquet, and that he was to attend a similar 
feast on the morrow. " Yet all these honors," 
he said, "have no interest to me as long as I 
see Mordecai the Jew, sitting at the king's 
gate." 

His wife and friends advised him to erect a 
gallows fifty cubits high — perhaps seventy-five 
feet — " and then obtain permission from the king 
to have Mordecai hanged on it. This being done 
thou canst go and enjoy the banquet." The 
proposition pleased Haman, and he immediately 
ordered the gallows to be erected. During the 
following night, the king could not sleep. Per- 
haps he was conscious of having acted rashly in 
the matter of the Jews, and to divert his mind, 
he commanded his chamberlains to bring the book 
containing the court records, and read them. In 
these writings was the account of the plot of 
Bigthana and Teresh to assassinate the king, dis- 
covered by Mordecai. He inquired what honor 
had been rendered to this Jew for saving the 
king's life. The servants replied that nothing 
had been done. 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 45 

Just at this moment Haman came to the out- 
side court of the palace, to ask that Mordecai 
might be hanged on the gallows just erected. 
The king inquired who was in the court, and was 
told it was Haman. " Let him come in," said 
he. After Haman entered the palace, Ahasuerus 
said, " What shall be done for the man whom the 
king delighteth to honor ? " Haman thought 
whom should he delight to honor more than 
himself. He advised his Majesty to have such an 
one arrayed in royal apparel and, wearing the 
royal crown, let him be placed on the horse used 
by his sovereign, and appoint one of the most 
noble princes to conduct him through the streets 
of the city and proclaim, " Thus shall be done to 
the man whom the king delighteth to honor." 

After Haman had given his advice, the king 
said, " Make haste and do for Mordecai who sits 
at the king's gate, what you have recommended." 
Though occupying the highest rank at court, 
Haman would not venture to disobey the king's 
orders. After he had done this, Mordecai went 
to his place at the gate, and Haman returned to 
his house mourning and with his head covered, as 
a sign of his grief and humiliation. He told his 
friends what had befallen him, when Zeresh his 
wife said, " If thou hast begun to fall, thou wilt 
continue to do so." While they were discussing 
the question, the king's chamberlains came in 



46 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

haste to conduct Haman to the queen's banquet 
a second time, when the king asked Esther the 
same question as on a previous occasion. 

The queen said, " If I have found favor in thy 
sight, O king, and if it pleases thee, let my life 
be given me and that of my people, for we are 
sold, I and my people to be slain. If we had 
only been sold as slaves, I could have kept silence, 
though the enemy could not do the king a per- 
manent injury." "Who and where is he that 
durst presume in his heart to do this ? " replied 
the king. Esther said, "The adversary is this 
wicked Haman." This declaration made the 
guilty prime minister afraid, while the king was 
very angry, and leaving the banquet, he went 
into the garden. Haman in the meantime plead 
with the queen for his life, and in his distress he 
had fallen on the bed on which Esther had re- 
clined. At this moment the king returned and 
found him in this position when he said, " Will 
he force the queen before me in the house ? " 
The servant covered the face of Haman, and one 
of the king's chamberlains named Harbonah, 
said, " The gallows fifty cubits high which Haman 
made for Mordecai is. in his house." The royal 
order was given to hang Haman on it, when the 
king's wrath was appeased. He delivered the 
family of Haman to the queen to dispose of them 
as she wished. She revealed her nationality to 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 47 

the king, when he took the ring given to Hainan 
and presented it to Mordecai and the queen ap- 
pointed him over the house of Haraan. 

THE FEAST OF PURIM. 

Esther made another petition to the king, 
prostrating herself at his feet, and beseeching 
him with tears to counteract the fearful doom 
Hainan had planned for the destruction of her 
nation. Her request was briefly as follows, "If 
it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in 
his sight, let there be a royal decree to reverse 
the one issued for the destruction of the Jews in 
the king's provinces, for how can I endure to see 
the extermination of my kindred ? " Ahasuerus 
said to the queen and to Mordecai, " I have given 
to Esther the family of Haman and him they 
have hanged upon the gallows. Write to the 
Jews in the king's name, and seal it with his ring 
that no one may erase it." The king's scribes 
were summoned, and in the third month — called 
Sivan, corresponding to June, and on the second 
day, the document was written according to the 
direction of Mordecai, addressed to the Jews, 
lieutenants, deputies, and rulers of the provinces, 
extending from India to Ethiopia, including 127, 
in different languages, in the name of Ahasuerus 
and sealed with his ring. The decree was that 
the Jews in every city were allowed to assemble 



48 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

and defend their lives, and if they were assaulted 
by their enemies, they were permitted to destroy 
them, including women and children, and take 
the spoils. 

A copy of this writing was published in all 
the provinces, when Mordecai and the queen con- 
firmed the decree, and sent letters of congratula- 
tions to all the Jews, on their escape from an im- 
minent danger. This decree was given at the 
palace in Shushan, and the couriers or posts as 
they were called, on mules, camels, and other 
animals, were hastened on their mission, by the 
king's orders. 

After this decree was issued, Mordecai, arrayed 
in garments of blue, white, and purple linen, and 
wearing a crown of gold, left the royal palace 
amidst the rejoicing citizens of Shushan. When 
the time for the execution of the king's command 
drew near, which was on the same day of the 
month the edict of Haman was to have been 
executed, the Jews assembled in the cities 
throughout the provinces, prepared to resist 
those who attempted their destruction. All the 
rulers, lieutenants, deputies, and officers of the 
king, assisted the Jews so that they smote 500 
in Shushan. When the king was informed of 
the affair, he said to the queen, " What have they 
done in the rest of the king's provinces ? Now 
what is thy petition and what is thy request ? " 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 49 

She replied, " If it please the king, let Haman's 
ten sons be hanged on a gallows," and he com- 
manded it to be done. 

Besides the number killed at Shushan, 75,000 
were slain in the provinces, but the victors took 
no spoils. After this fearful slaughter, the Jews 
observed the fourteenth day of the month Adar 
or March, as one of feasting and gladness, and 
sent presents to one another, and Mordecai de- 
spatched messages to all the Jews to establish 
the observance as a national festival and call it 
the Feast of Purim. The name is a Persian 
word signifying lot because Haraan settled by 
lot the day on which the Jews were to be mas- 
sacred. The days of the festival, including the 
fourteenth and fifteenth of the month, were spent 
in making social visits and sending food to the 
poor, and congratulations to friends. 

The story of Hadassah or Esther is one of the 
most remarkable &nd romantic of all the women 
of sacred history, it has been said, and her 
achievements are, perhaps, without a parallel, as 
she was the means of saving her nation from 
utter destruction. She was the daughter of 
Abihail, a Jew, and was a native of Shushan, 
probably where her life was passed. She was 
left an orphan at a very early age in a heathen 
land, but providentially, was adopted by one of 
her own countrymen, who trained her in the re- 



50 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

ligion of her ancestors, and became her adviser 
during her remarkable career. 

Esther was distinguished for her personal at- 
tractions, a circumstance that had a controlling 
influence on her future life, and united her for- 
tune with that of the most powerful sovereign of 
his times, an oriental potentate whom she swayed 
by her firm will. From a captive slave to a 
queen, from an orphan of despised Jewish exiles to 
the wife of an absolute oriental monarch, are 
striking contrasts in the history of this remarka- 
ble woman. She had been educated by her 
cousin who adopted her, for the Jews were not 
allowed to neglect the education of their chil- 
dren, and her history proves she had been trained 
in the elementary branches of knowledge, at 
least. 

Esther's zeal and devotion to her countrymen 
led her to propose a measure that might be ques- 
tioned in regard to its humanity. This was # for 
the execution of the ten sons of Hainan. Prob- 
ably some of them were old enough to take a 
part in the barbarous scheme of their father, 
but it could hardly be possible that all his sons 
were and some of them may have been young 
children. The only justification for the queen's 
demand is, that they might have become dan- 
gerous in exciting future conspiracies. 

The character of Ahasuerus presents a combi- 



FROM CAPTIVITY TO A THRONE. 51 

nation of conflicting elements, as strength and 
weakness, pride and humility, nobility and mean- 
ness, cruelty and kindness, oppression and jus- 
tice. His treatment of Yashti and his decree for 
the destruction of the Jews illustrate his rash- 
ness, and cruelty, while the honor he paid to 
Mordecai, exhibits his justice, and his yielding to 
the request of Esther, proves his susceptibility to 
female charms. 



The Translated Saint. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

iskael's geeatest prophet. 

Ahab, king of Israel, whose reign of twenty- 
two years, from 918 to 897, B. c, surpassed, ac- 
cording to the sacred historian, all the other kings 
of that nation, in wickedness. He was encour- 
aged and assisted in his evil course by his wife 
Jezebel, the daughter of the heathen king of 
Zidon, who introduced into Samaria the public 
worship of Baal, Ashtoreth and other Phoenician 
deities, with all their abominations. She main- 
tained at her own table, 400 prophets of the 
goddess Astarte, while Ahab, her husband, en- 
tertained 400 of Baal's prophets in like manner. 
This fearful corruption of morals and predomi- 
nance of- idolatry, proves the degeneracy of the 
people of Israel, and their bold defiance of the 
laws and worship of Jehovah, yet it is said there 
were 700 who had never bowed the knee to Baal, 
and among the faithful, was the prophet Elijah 

52 



THE TRANSLATED SAINT 53 

whose remarkable boldness in rebuking the 
idolaters, endangered his own life. 

The name Elijah means u Jehovah is my God." 
In the ISTew Testament, it is written Elias, the 
Greek form of expression. His native place was 
Tishbe a town in Galilee, in the mountainous and 
fertile region east of the Jordan, but nothing is 
revealed of his early life, or of his family. He 
appeared as a supernatural messenger from an- 
other world, suddenly descending to declare the 
commands of God, and awe the proud king and 
nation, by the menace of fearful judgments. 

Elijah was one of the most remarkable of all 
the ancient prophets. His character, it has been 
said, exhibits a moral grandeur heightened by 
the obscurity of his birth and early life. He was 
distinguished for boldness in reproof, ardent zeal 
for the honor of God, and indifference to ease 
and personal suffering. He was admitted to 
great intimacy with the Lord, and was endowed 
with the power of performing wonderful miracles. 
It has been said, that " He stood up as fire, and 
his words burned as a lamp." He is considered 
an impressive type of John the Baptist. The 
prophet Malachi said, " Behold, I will send you 
Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the 
great and dreadful day of the Lord," and the 
Saviour declared that Elijah had come — in spirit 
at least — in the person of John. This remarkable 



54 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

prophet, appeared with Moses at the transfigura- 
tion of Christ, and talked with Him about His 
future sufferings on the cross. — It has been stated 
that each three great dispensations of religion, 
had a translated representative ; namely, the 
Patriarchal in the person of Enoch ; the Jewish 
in the person of Elijah ; and the Christian in 
the person of Christ. 

Elijah is first introduced to the Bible student, 
as addressing Ahab king of Israel, saying, that 
" according to the word of the Lord, there would 
be neither rain nor dew these years." In the 
New Testament the time is specified as two 
years and six months, consequently, all vegeta- 
tion would suffer from the prolonged drought. 
The prophet received a Divine command to con- 
ceal himself by the brook Cherith, on the eastern 
side of the Jordan, probably to escape the wrath 
of Jezebel, where he would be fed by ravens 
with bread and flesh morning and evening. 
After awhile the brook dried up, when he was 
directed to go to Zarephath, in Zidon, where a 
widow would afford him a shelter. This was a city 
of the Sidonians situated on the coast of the Medi- 
terranean, between Tyre and Sidon, in Phoenicia, 
and at a later period was called Sarepta. This 
was in a heathen country, yet the prophet was 
entertained with hospitality. 

When Elijah came to the gate of the city, a 



THE TRANSLATED SAINT. 55 

woman was there gathering sticks, when he said 
to her, " Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water 
that I may drink." Perhaps he had been without 
drink during his journey from the brook Cherith. 
As she started to get the water, he said, " Bring 
me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread." She replied, 
" As the Lord thy God liveth, I have only a hand- 
ful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse 
(or bottle) and I am gathering two sticks that I 
may cook it for myself and son, and then we must* 
die." Elijah said, " Fear not, go and do as thou 
hast said, but make me a little cake first, and 
then one for thyself and son, for thus saith the 
Lord, ' The barrel of meal shall not waste, nor 
the cruse of oil fail, before the Lord will send 
rain upon the earth.' " The widow obeyed the 
prophet, whose prediction was fulfilled. 

After a time, the son of this woman was taken 
sick and died, when his mother said to Elijah, 
" What have I to do with thee, O man of God ? 
Art thou come to call my sin to remembrance, 
and slay my son ? " Whether this woman hau 
committed any special sin that called for venge- 
ance, or whether she referred to her sins in general, 
is only conjectured. Elijah said to her, " Give me 
thy son," when he took the child from his mother's 
arms, and carried him to the upper chamber 
where the prophet lodged ; perhaps it was on the 
flat roof often used for such purposes. He then 



56 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

placed the lifeless boy on his own bed and prayed 
to the Lord, saying, " Hast thou, O Lord, my God, 
brought evil upon this widow, with whom I so- 
journ, by slaying her son ? " He then stretched 
himself upon the child three times and said, " O 
Lord my God, I pray Thee, let this child's soul 
come into him again." His prayer was answered, 
and the boy was restored to life, when Elijah car- 
ried him to his mother, saying, " See, thy son 
*liveth." She replied, " Now I know that thou art 
a man of God, and the word of the Lord which 
thou speakest is truth." 

During the third year of the drought, Elijah re- 
ceived a Divine command to go to Ahab and tell 
him, that " I will send rain upon the earth." 
The want of it had caused a famine in Samaria, 
and there was a great need of food for domestic 
animals. The king said to Obadiah, the super- 
intendent of the royal household, " Let us go 
through the land and see if there may not be 
grass near the brooks and fountains, that we may 
save the mules and horses from dying of hunger 
and thirst. We will divide the land between 
us ; " so they parted company, Ahab going in 
one direction and his superintendent in another. 

Obadiah was a sincere worshipper of the Lord, 
and when Jezebel ordered the prophets of God 
to be slain, he concealed 100 of them in two 
caves, fifty in each, and nourished them with 



THE TRANSLATED SAINT. 57 

bread and water. As he was on his way in 
search of food for the animals, he met Elijah, 
and, falling on his face, said, " Art thou my lord 
Elijah ? " He replied, " I am. Go and tell 
Ahab, that Elijah is here." Obadiah said, 
" What have I done that I should be slain by 
the king? There is no nation or kingdom to 
which he has not sent to seek thee, and when the 
people said ' He is not here,' the king required 
an oath of them that they had not seen thee. 
Now, if I say that Elijah is here, the Spirit of 
the Lord will lead thee whither I know not, and 
Ahab will slay me. I have feared the Lord 
from my youth. Have you not heard what I 
did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, 
how I hid 100 of them in caves and fed them ? " 
Elijah said, " As the Lord of hosts liveth, before 
whom I stand, I will go to Ahab to-day." Oba- 
diah departed and told the king who went to 
meet the prophet, and said, " Art thou he that 
troubleth Israel ? " The reply was, " I have not 
troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house 
have forsaken the Lord and followed Baalim." 

The prophet told Ahab to gather all the peo- 
ple of Israel to Mount Carmel, with the prophets 
of Baal numbering 450, and the prophets of the 
groves or Asteroth 400, all of whom were nour- 
ished at Queen Jezebel's table. This was to test 
the religion of Baal and that of the God of 



58 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Elijah, who, on this occasion, was the only repre- 
sentative of Jehovah. 

When Elijah appeared before the people, he 
said, " How long halt ye between two opinions ? 
If the Lord be God, follow Him, but if Baal, (be 
God,) then follow him." Baal was, perhaps, more 
generally known than any other heathen divinity. 
His worship prevailed in nearly all the countries 
of antiquity. It is supposed he represented the 
sun and his name is associated with that of 
Astarte the goddess representing the moon. 
Altars were erected to Baal in groves, on high 
places, and even on terraces of houses. It has 
been supposed that Baal was identical with vari- 
ous divinities. Human sacrifices were offered to 
him, and his temples and altars were generally 
on high places. 

The scene as represented at Mount Carmel. 
Between 800 and 900 prophets of Baal and other 
pagan divinities richly clad and well-fed, proud 
and confident of their power and influence. Op- 
posed to this host of heathen prophets, was only 
one persecuted, hunted, and obscure prophet, so 
destitute that he was fed by ravens, to vindicate 
his cause, the worship of the true and only God. 
When he said, " How long halt ye between two 
opinions," the people made no reply. He then 
said, " I only remain a prophet of the Lord, but 
Baal's prophets number 450. 



THE TRANSLATED SAINT. 59 

Elijah then proposed the test to prove whose 
God was the true one. Two bullocks were to be 
killed, their bodies cut in pieces and placed on an 
altar, one for Baal and the other for the Lord, 
but no fire was to be applied. The prophets of 
Baal were to call upon their gods, while he 
would call upon the name of the Lord, and the 
one that answered by fire, was to be God. The 
people said, "that was well-spoken." Baal's 
prophets killed their offering and placed it upon 
the altar as requested, and called upon Baal from 
morning until evening, saying, "O Baal, hear 
us," but no answer came, and in their vehemence, 
they leaped upon the altar, and cut themselves 
with knives and lancets until the blood flowed 
from their wounds. When they had continued 
their petitions until noon, Elijah, who was a wit- 
ness of the scene, said ironically, " Cry aloud, for 
he is a god. He may be musing, or pursuing a 
journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be 
awaked." These exciting scenes continued until 
the time for evening sacrifice, when Elijah said 
to the people " come near me." Then he repaired 
the broken altar of the Lord, with twelve stones 
to represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and made 
a trench or ditch about it, laid the wood in 
order, killed the bullock and put the pieces of 
the animal on the wood. He then ordered four 
barrels of water to be poured on the altar, and 



60 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

this was repeated three times, when the water 
filled the trenches. This was to prove that no 
natural fire had been applied. 

The prophet of the Lord then offered a prayer to 
God that " It might be known that Thou art God 
in Israel, and I am Thy servant and have done 
these things at Thy word," etc. At the close of 
his prayer a fire burst forth and consumed the 
sacrifice, the wood, and even the stones and dust 
and dried up the water in the ditch. When the 
people saw the wonderful miracle, they fell on their 
faces to the earth and exclaimed, " The Lord, He 
is God." Elijah gave a command to " take the 
prophets of Baal, and not let one of them escape." 
This was done and they were brought to the 
brook Kishon and slain. The execution of the 
false prophets may seem cruel and unjustifiable, 
but it was, undoubtedly, a necessity to prevent 
the people from following their abominable prac- 
tices. It is not likely that Elijah himself slew 
them, but it was done by his command, and may 
have been by Divine revelation. Jezebel had put 
to death the prophets of the Lord, and the death 
of those of Baal may have been in retaliation. 
They had forfeited their lives by their falsehoods, 
crimes and corrupt morals. 

Mount Carmel, the scene of the tragedy, was 
on the coast of the Mediterranean, north of the 
plain of Sharon, and was about 2,000 feet in 



THE TRANSLATED SAINT, 61 

height, with steep and rugged sides, and a level 
top. It was the residence of the prophets Elijah 
and Elisha. The brook Kishon, issuing from 
Mount Tabor, flowed at the foot of this mountain 
in its passage to the sea. Mount Tabor has been 
used as a figure of speech by the prophets Amos 
and Isaiah. There is a cave in it where, accord- 
ing to tradition, the prophet Elijah lived. 

After the death of the prophets, Elijah said to 
Ahab, " Arise, eat and drink, for there is a sound 
of abundance of rain," and the king, who had 
been greatly troubled by the prolonged drought, 
complied with the Prophet's advice. 

Elijah, with his servant, went to the top of 
Mount Carmel and sat down upon the ground 
with bis face between his knees. This is the first 
mention of a servant ; previously the prophet is 
represented as being alone. While in this posi- 
tion, he told his servant to go and look towards 
the sea. He went as directed and reported there 
was nothing unusual. " Go seven times," his 
master said, and the seventh time he saw a small 
cloud of the size of a man's hand. " Go and tell 
Ahab to make ready his chariot before the rain 
stops him." The king obeyed the. warning and 
drove to Jezreel, while Elijah ran before him, 
perhaps as the king's herald. 

When Ahab reached his home, he told Jezebel 
what Elijah had done, and that he had slain all 



62 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

the prophets with the sword. The queen then 
sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, " Let the gods 
do so and more to me, if I make not thy life as 
one of them to-morrow." When the prophet re- 
ceived the queen's message, he immediately fled 
for his life, with his servant, and came to Beer- 
sheba, in the dominions of Judah, where he left 
his servant, while he went alone a day's journey 
into the wilderness, and there sat down under a 
juniper- tree, and said, 

"O Lord, take my life, for I am not better 
than my fathers." 

After he fell asleep, an angel awoke him and 
said, " Arise and eat." When the prophet looked 
about him, he saw a cake which had been cooked 
on the coals, and a cup of water at his head. 
After partaking of the cake and water, he lay 
down again, but how long he remained in that 
attitude is not known. The angel of the Lord 
came a second time and, touching the sleeper, 
said, " Arise and eat, for the journey is too great 
for thee," meaning, doubtless, that he needed re- 
freshments to give him strength to pursue it. 
Elijah obeyed the angel, and on the strength of 
that food he travelled forty days, until he came 
to Mount Horeb, near Mount Sinai, celebrated in 
the history of his nation, as the scene of remark- 
able events. 

Elijah entered a cave and lodged there, expect- 



THE TRANSLATED SAINT.' 63 

ing, perhaps, to spend the rest of his days in this 
seclusion, but this was not the Divine purpose. 
The Lord said to him, " What doest thou here, 
Elijah?" His answer was, "I have been very 
jealous for the Lord God of hosts. The people 
of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown 
down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with 
the sword, and I only am left, and they seek nry 
life." The Lord told him to go and stand upon 
the mountain — meaning Horeb. The prophet 
obeyed, when there followed remarkable phe- 
nomena. First, a powerful hurricane which rent 
the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces. 
This terrible tornado was followed by an earth- 
quake, and then by a fire, but no communication 
was received by the prophet during these won- 
derful miracles. At last there was heard a low, 
calm voice, when Elijah covered his face with his 
mantle and leaving the cave, stood at the en- 
trance, when the Voice said, " What doest thou 
here, Elijah ? " He made the same answer as 
before, when he was directed to return to the 
wilderness of Damascus and anoint Hazael king 
of Syria, Jehu king of Israel, and Elisha to be 
a prophet in his own place ; for, said the Lord, 
"Him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall 
Jehu slay ; and him that escapes the sword of 
Jehu, shall Elisha slay. There are left 7,000 in 
Israel that have not bowed to Baal." 



64 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

The prophet obeyed the command and found 
Elisha ploughing with twelve yokes of oxen. 
When he cast his mantle over him, Elisha left the 
oxen and ran after Elijah, saying, "Let me, I 
pray thee, kiss my father and mother, and then I 
will follow thee." Elijah replied, " Go back, what 
have I done to thee ? " Elisha returned and slew 
a yoke of oxen, with which he fed the people, 
then followed the prophet and ministered to him. 

The history of this eminent prophet is more or 
less blended with that of the rulers of his day, 
Ahab and Jezebel, king and queen of Israel, and 
is recorded in the lives of those sovereigns. 

The time had arrived when this remarkable 
prophet was to be taken to heaven without suf- 
fering a natural death, the inevitable destiny of 
nearly all human beings. It is stated in the 
Scriptures, that he was translated in a whirlwind. 
Elijah was, undoubtedly, informed of his exit 
from earth by Divine revelation, and also of the 
time and place of the remarkable event. Ac- 
companied by Elisha who may have been in- 
formed of what was to happen, as well as other 
prophets of the Lord, they came to Gilgal, when 
Elijah told his companion to remain there, for 
the Lord had sent him to Bethel, but Elisha re 
fused, saying, " As the Lord liveth and as thy 
soul liveth, I will not leave thee," therefore they 
both went to Bethel. The sons of the prophets 




Elijah in the Wilderness. 



THE TRANSLATED SAINT. 65 

at this place, where there was a school for them, 
said to Elisha, " Do you not know the Lord will 
take away thy master to-day ? " " Yes, I know 
it. Be silent." Perhaps he did not wish to be 
reminded of his loss. Elisha was requested to 
remain at Bethel while his companion should go 
to Jericho as the Lord commanded, but he re- 
fused to do so and they both came to Jericho, 
when the prophets of that city told Elisha that 
he would lose his master. Elijah requested his 
companion to remain here, for, said he, " The 
Lord hath sent me to Jordan," but Elisha de- 
cidedly refused. 

Fifty of the sons of the prophets stood afar off 
to witness the scene that was to follow. When 
the two came to the river, Elijah took his mantle 
and folding it, smote the waters when they were 
divided, and they w^ent to the other side on dry 
ground. After they had passed over, Elijah said, 
"What shall I do for thee before I am taken 
away ? " Elisha answered, " Let a double por- 
tion of thy spirit, I pray thee, be upon me." 
" Thou hast asked a hard thing, but if thou seest 
me when I am taken, it shall be so, but if not, it 
shall not be thus." 

As they went on conversing by the way, they 
were separated by a chariot and horses of fire, 
and Elijah ascended by a whirlwind into heaven, 
his mantle falling to the earth. When Elisha saw 



66 BIBLE CHARACTERS 

the wonderful scene, he exclaimed, " My father, 
the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof ; " 
and rent his clothes as an expression of grief at 
his loss. He took up the mantle of Elijah, and 
returned to the Jordan whose waters had resumed 
their natural course after the miracle performed 
by the ascended prophet. Standing on its banks, 
Elisha took the wonderful mantle and smote the 
waters, saying, "Where is the Lord God of 
Elijah ? " when the waters parted and he crossed 
to the western side. 

When the sons of the prophets at Jericho saw 
Elisha, thejr said, " The spirit of Elijah doth rest 
on him," and went to meet him and bowed to the 
earth as an act of reverence. They said, " We 
have fifty strong men with us, let them go and 
seek for thy master, lest the Spirit of the Lord 
hath taken him up and cast him upon some 
mountain or into some valley." Elisha said, 
" Ye shall not send them," but they urged him to 
grant their request when he said " go." After 
searching three days without success, they re- 
turned to Elisha at Jericho, who said to them, 
" Did I not say to you, ' Do not go ' ? " 






The Faithful Friend. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE FARMER PROPHET. 

It has been seen in the life of Elijah that his 
devoted friend Elisha was called to the prophetic 
office while pursuing his occupation as a farmer. 
He was the son of Shaphat and a native of Abel- 
meholah, the scene of Gideon's victory over the 
Midianites. The name Elisha signifies, " God 
my Salvation." The earlier events of his life are 
recorded in the biography of " The Translated 
Saint.". 

After the unsuccessful search for Elijah, the 
people of Jericho said to Elisha, " This city is 
pleasantly situated, as my lord seeth, but the 
water is impure and the soil is unfruitful." The 
prophet told them to bring him a cruse or bottle 
with salt in it, when he went to the spring of 
water and threw the salt into it, declaring, 
"Thus saith the Lord, 'I have healed these 
waters and thence there shall be no more de^ith 

67 



68 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

in them or barrenness of the soil.' " His predic- 
tion was fulfilled. 

After this miracle, Elisha left Jericho and came 
to Bethel, but during his journey a sad and fear- 
ful event occurred. As he was ascending the 
hill, little children came from the city. and in- 
sulted the prophet of whom they had heard 
probably from their parents who might have 
been idolaters. They said, " Go up, thou bald 
head," repeating the insult. The prophet turned 
and severely denounced their wicked conduct, 
when two bears came from the forest and killed 
forty-two children. Their irreverence proves the 
criminal neglect of their parents and the irre- 
ligious character of the inhabitants of Bethel 
who paid no respect to the aged prophet of the 
Lord. Elisha resumed his journey and came to 
Mount Carmel, then went to Samaria. 

A war occurred between the Moabites and the 
confederate armies of Israel, Judah, and the 
Edomites. The allied armies were obliged to 
march through a region destitute of water, and 
consequently were greatly distressed, when Je- 
hoshaphat, king of Judah, inquired of Joram, king 
of Israel, " Is there not -a prophet of the Lord, 
that we may inquire of Him ? " One of t\\e serv- 
ants of the king of Israel said, " Here is Elisha, 
son of Shaphat who served Elijah." The king of 
Judah said, " The word of the Lord is with him." 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 6«J 

When the three kings appeared before Elisha, 
he said to the king of Israel, " What have I to 
do with thee ? Go to the prophets of thy father 
and mother." "No," replied Joram, "for the 
Lord called together these three kings to deliver 
them to Moab." The prophet said, "Were it 
not for Jehoshaphat I would not pay any regard 
to your question. Bring me a minstrel." When 
the musician played, the Lord delivered to Elisha 
the following message, " Make this valley full of 
ditches. Though there will be neither wind nor 
rain, yet the valley shall be filled with water, 
both for yourselves and your animals. Moreover, 
you will gain a victory over the Moabites, cap- 
ture their cities, even those defended by walls, 
fell all the trees, fill all the wells that no water 
can be obtained from them, and cover the fertile 
valley with stones," thus making them unfit for 
cultivation. 

The next morning, after the usual offering, an 
abundance of water flowed from Edom and 
filled all the springs and streams which had be- 
come dry. An account of this remarkable inci- 
dent and the result of the war, is related in the 
narrative of " The Kings of Israel." After this 
incident, the wife of a prophet's son, came to 
Elisha stating her grievances as follows : " My 
husband, who feared the Lord, as thou knowest, 
is dead, and his creditors demand my two sons 



70 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

for bondsmen." Elisha said, " What can I do 
for thee ? What have you in your house ? " She 
replied, "Nothing except a pot of oil." " Go 
and borrow all the vessels you can from your 
neighbors, and be sure you get a large number, 
then you and your sons with closed doors, pour 
the oil you have into these vessels." She fol- 
lowed the prophet's advice and when one vessel 
was filled she said, " Bring me another," until all 
were filled, wiien she went and told the prophet, 
who said, " Go and sell the oil, and pay thy 
debts, while you and your sons can use the re- 
mainder." 

Elisha in his travels, came to Shunem, a city 
south of Mount Tabor, celebrated in Jewish his- 
tory, where there lived a hospitable woman, w r ho 
invited the prophet to come to her house for rest 
and entertainment at her table. She said to her 
husband, " This is a man of God who often 
passes this way ; let us give him the little cham- 
ber on the wall, furnished with a bed, table, 
stool, and candlestick." This arrangement hav- 
ing been made, Elisha said to Gehazi his servant, 
" Call the Shunammite woman." When she came, 
he said, " You have very kindly cared for us, now 
what can be done for you ? Would you like to have 
your hospitality made known to the king or the 
captain of the army ? " She replied, " I dwell 
among my own people." She may have intended 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 11 

by this answer, that she did not desire promotion 
or remuneration even at the royal court. " What 
then can be done for her ? " Gehazi said, " She 
has no child." "When Elisha ordered her to be 
recalled, and said, " About this season, thou wilt 
become the mother of a son." He probably 
meant the next year. " No, my lord, do not de- 
ceive me." The prediction of the prophet was 
fulfilled, and when the child, on a certain day, 
went to the field where his father was superin- 
tending the reapers, and exclaimed, "My head, 
my head," as if suffering very severely, his 
father told one of the servants to carry him to 
his mother who held the child until noon when 
he died. She then laid him on Elisha's bed, 
closed the door and left him. 

Going to her husband, she requested him to 
send one of the young men and one of the asses 
to go with her to the man of God, but she did 
not make known the death of their son. He 
said, " Why do you go to-day ? It is neither the 
new moon nor the Sabbath." She replied, " It 
is well." After preparing for the journey, she 
said to her servant, " Drive in haste, and do not 
slacken your pace unless I bid thee." At length 
she came to the prophet at Mount Carmel, and 
when Elisha saw her at a distance, he said to 
Gehazi, " There i^ the Shunammite, run to meet 
her and inquire, ' Is it well with thee, with thy 



72 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

husband, and with the child ? ' " She replied, " It 
is well." When she came to Elisha, she caught 
him by the feet, and when his servant tried to 
remove her, he said, " Let her alone, for her soul 
is troubled, and I do not understand the cause." 
The woman said, " Did I ask for a son ? Did I 
not say, deceive me not?" The prophet then 
understood that the child was dead, and told 
Gehazi to get ready, take his staff, (that is the 
prophet's), and go to the Shunammite's home, " but 
do not stop to salute any one by the way, and 
on arriving there lay the staff upon the face of 
his son." When the woman heard his directions, 
she said, " No, as the Lord liveth and as thy soul 
liveth, I will not leave thee," therefore Elisha 
followed Gehazi who went in advance, and laid 
the staff upon the child, but there was no sign of 
life, and the servant returned to the prophet and 
told him that the child had not awaked. 

When Elisha came to the house of the Shunam- 
mite, he found her lifeless son on his own bed, 
when entering the chamber and closing the door, 
he offered a prayer to God, then extending him- 
self upon the corpse, the child's flesh became 
warm, when the prophet left him for a while, 
then returned and performed the same cere- 
mony, when the child sneezed seven times and 
opened his eyes. Elisha called his mother, and 
when she entered the room he told her to take 






THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 73 

her son who had been restored to life. She fell 
at the prophet's feet as an expression of her rev- 
erence and gratitude, and taking her son, with- 
drew. 

Naaman was the commander-in-chief of the 
army of Ben-hadad, king of Syria, and had won 
the esteem of his sovereign by his honorable 
character and his valiant achievements as a sol- 
dier, but with all these advantages, he suffered 
with the terrible disease of leprosy for which it 
was supposed there was no natural remedy. 

The Syrians were in the habit of making pred- 
atory excursions to the Kingdom of Israel on 
their southern borders and in one of these raids, 
they captured among other prisoners a little girl 
and carried her to Syria where she became a 
servant to Naaman's wife. The little captive re- 
spected her Syrian master, and said to her mis- 
tress, " I wish my lord could see the prophet that 
is in Samaria," (meaning Elisha) " for he would 
cure him of his leprosy." She had heard of his 
miracles and it is possible, may have witnessed 
some of them. Some one who heard her remark, 
told Naaman, and when the king of Syria heard 
the report he told his officer to go to Samaria, 
and he would send a letter to the king of Israel 
which was in substance as follows : " When you 
receive this letter, understand that I have sent 
Naaman my servant to thee, that you may cure 



74 BIBLE CHARACTERS, 

him of his leprosy." The king of Syria sent by 
his general, ten talents of silver, 6,000 pieces of 
gold, and ten changes of raiment as a present 
to Joram, king of Israel. When the letter to 
the king of Israel was read to him, he rent his 
garments saying, " Am I a god to kill and make 
alive, that the king of Syria should send to me 
to cure a man of his leprosy ? See how he seek- 
eth a quarrel with me." 

When Elisha heard that the king of Israel had 
rent his garments, as a sign of his fear and per- 
plexity, he sent to know the cause and when in- 
formed he said, " Let Naaman come to me and 
he shall know there is a prophet in Israel." 
Therefore the Syrian general with his chariot 
and horses, accompanied by his attendants, came 
in great pomp to the house of Elisha, who did 
not go out to see the king of Syria's commander- 
in-chief, but sent a messenger to tell him, " Go 
wash in the Jordan seven times, and thou shalt 
be cured." Naaman's pride was wounded, and 
he said, " I thought the prophet would come out 
to me, and calling upon the name of the Lord his 
God, would place his hands on me and cure the 
disease. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of 
Damascus better than all the waters of Israel ? 
May I not wash in them and be cured?" The 
proud Syrian then went away very angry, when 
one of his servants said to him, " My father, if 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 75 

the prophet had told thee to do some great deed, 
would you not have done it ? How much better 
then for thee to ' wash and be clean.' " The ar- 
gument of the servant prevailed, and when his 
master washed in the Jordan as the prophet di- 
rected, he was perfectly cured of his fearful dis- 
ease. A change had occurred in the opinion of 
Naaman, and he, with his escort, returned to 
Elisha, saying, " Now I know that there is no 
God in all the earth, except in Israel, therefore I 
pray thee receive a gift from thy servant." 
Elisha replied, " As the Lord liveth before whom 
I stand, I will receive none." IsTaaman said, 
" May there not be given thy servant, earth suf- 
ficient for two mules' burden, for thy servant 
henceforth will not offer either burnt-offering or 
sacrifice unto other gods, but only unto the Lord. 
There is one favor I desire that is when I go into 
the house of Kimmon with my royal master lean- 
ing upon my hand, as is the custom, and when I 
bow down, that I may be pardoned for the act." 
Elisha said, " Go in peace." Kimmon was an 
idol worshipped at Damascus, where he had a 
temple. It has .been supposed by some writers 
that this god represented the sun, and by others 
the planet Saturn. In regard to Naaman's going 
to the temple of Bimmon, it has been thought it 
referred to his practice before his miraculous cure 
for which he asked forgiveness. 



76 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Naaman had gone only a short distance, be- 
fore he saw Gehazi, the servant of Elisha follow- 
ing him, when he descended from his chariot and 
going to meet him, inquired, " Is all well ? " 
The reply was, "All is well. My master has 
sent me to you with the message." There came 
two young men, sons of the prophets from Mount 
Ephraim, saying, " Give me, I pray you, a talent 
of silver arid two changes of raiment." Naaihan 
directed his servants to put two talents in a bag, 
then place ten changes of garments in another 
bag, and give them to some of the other servants 
who carried them to the tower, and Gehazi re- 
moved them to the house of the prophet. When 
the servants of JSTaaman departed, Gehazi re- 
turned to his master who said to him, " Whence 
comest thou, Gehazi ? " The answer was, " Thy 
servant did not go anywhere." Elisha said, 
" Did I not know that the Syrian left his chariot 
to meet thee ? Is it a time to receive money, 
garments, and other gifts ? The leprosy of 
Naaman shall cleave to thee and thy descend- 
ants forever." Gehazi left the presence of his 
master a leper, white as snow. 

The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, " The 
place where we dwell with thee is too small. Let 
us go to the Jordan, and each one cut a piece of 
timber to construct a more convenient dwelling." 
The prophet gave them permission, when they 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 77 

requested him to accompany them, to which he 
consented. When they came to the river, they 
felled some of the trees growing on the banks, 
but one of the party, as he was at work, lost his 
axe in the stream, when he exclaimed, " Alas ; 
master, it was borrowed." The young man was 
distressed about the loss of the axe, for he had 
no means, probably, for replacing it. 

Elisha inquired where it fell, and when told he 
cut a stick and cast it into the water and, won- 
derful to see, the axe arose to the surface, and 
floated. " Take it up," said the prophet, " and 
return it to the owner." 



CHAPTEE VI. 

THE FAEMER PROPHET — CONCLUDED. 

There was another war with Syria, when 
Joram, king of Israel, held a council with his 
officials and appointed the places for their en- 
campments, when Elisha sent to the king telling 
him to beware and not pass a certain place, and 
when a courier was sent to examine the place 
designated, he learned its dangers. The warning 
was timely and, perhaps, saved the Israelites 
from defeat. This stratagem was repeated sev- 
eral times, which greatly perplexed the king of 
Syria, who suspected there was a traitor in his 
army. He inquired, "Will not some one show 
me who is for the king of Israel ?" One of his 
servants said, " None, my lord, O king, but Elisha, 
the prophet of Israel, informs the king of Israel 
of the words thou speakest in thy bedchamber." 
The king said, " Go and bring him to me." 

The messengers sent on this errand were told 
that the prophet was in Dothan, when the Syrian 
king sent a large force with horses and chariots 
by night that encamped about the city. When 
Elisha's servant had risen early the next morning, 

78 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 79 

and saw the powerful army of their foes, he said, 
" Alas, my master, what shall we do?" He re- 
plied, " Fear not, for they that are with us are 
more than they that are with them." 

Elisha then offered the petition, "Lord, open 
their eyes that they may see." This was an- 
swered when they saw the mountains covered 
with horses and chariots of fire about Elisha, who 
said, " Smite them with blindness, Lord." Prob- 
ably he meant the messengers sent to arrest the 
prophet and the advance guard of the king of 
Syria. When they had lost their sight, Elisha 
said, " This is not the way to the city. I will 
bring you to the man you seek." He then con- 
ducted them to Samaria and when they came to 
the city, he said, " Lord, open the eyes of these 
men." The king of Israel inquired whether he 
should smite them, when the reply of Elisha was, 
" No. Would you smite those taken captive ? 
Set bread and water before them that they may 
eat and return to their master." The king of 
Israel prepared a great feast for them and then sent 
them to their own country, and the Syrians made 
no attack upon the Israelites at that time. 

Ben-hadad, king of Syria, did not, however, 
abandon his hostile intentions against Joram, 
king of Israel, therefore calling his forces to- 
gether, he marched south and besieged Samaria. 
The Israelites were not prepared for a siege, as 



80 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

there was a want of provisions and the small 
quantity of food they had was sold at an enor- 
mous price. As the king was passing on the wall 
of the city, perhaps to inspect the enemy's camp, 
a woman cried, "Help, my lord, O king." He 
replied, " If the Lord doth not help thee, whence 
shall I help thee ? " 

The statement of the woman was fearful. One 
of her acquaintances said to her, " Give thy son 
that we may eat him to-day, and we will, eat my 
son to-morrow," but she refused to surrender her 
son after partaking of the first mother's child. 

When the king heard this fearful story, he rent 
his clothes and put on sackcloth as an indication 
of his fear and abhorrence. He thought that 
Elisha was the cause of their national troubles, and 
resolved that he should be slain. The prophet 
was in his house with the elders w r hen the king 
sent a messenger to execute his wicked purpose, 
but before the king's officer arrived, Elisha said 
to his companions, " See how the son of a mur- 
derer has sent to take away my head. When the 
messenger comes, shut the door, for the sound of 
his master's feet is behind him." While he was 
talking, the officer arrived, when Elisha said, 
" According to the word of the Lord, to-morrow 
about this time, a measure of fine flour shall be 
sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for 
a shekel, in the gate of Samaria." A lord, on 



TEE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 81 

whose hand the king was accustomed to lean, 
answered, " If the Lord would make windows in 
heaven, this thing might be." The prophet said, 
" Thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt 
not eat of it." For some reason, the assassin sent 
to take the life of the prophet, did not accomplish 
his purpose. 

Four lepers were sitting at the gate of the city 
when they said to one another, " Why do we sit 
here and die ? If we enter the city the famine 
is there, and we must perish. Now let us go 
over to the Syrians, and if they spare us we shall 
live, and if they kill us, we can only die." They 
decided to go to the camp of the Syrians, when 
they found it deserted ; there was not a man to 
be seen. The enemy had imagined they heard 
the noise of horses and chariots and a great army, 
and supposing the king of Israel had engaged the 
Hittites and the Egyptians to fight for him, they 
fled in a panic leaving their camp with their 
tents, horses, and all their equipments. 

When the lepers came to the deserted camp, 
they found plenty of food, silver, gold, and 
raiment. After securing these treasures, they 
said, " We ought to carry the good tidings to the 
king of Israel's servants immediately, for if we 
wait until morning something may prevent our 
doing so. Let us go directly and inform the 
king's household." They came and told the 



82 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

porters of the city what they had seen, and the 
news was communicated to the king who arose 
in the night and told his servants that they 
probably knew they had no provisions, therefore 
they have left their camp and have concealed 
themselves, saying to one another, " When the 
Israelites leave the city, we shall take them alive 
and enter." One of the king's servants said, 
" Let us take two horses with their drivers, and 
follow the retreating army of the Syrians." 
This was done as far as the Jordan, when they 
found garments and vessels strewn along the 
way, which the retreating army had left in their 
haste to escape. 

When the scout returned and informed the 
king of Israel about the hasty escape of the 
Syrians, the people went and destroyed the 
enemy's tents, when a measure of fine flour was 
sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for 
a shekel, according to the prediction of Elisha. 
The value of the shekel, and the size of the 
measure varied a*t different times, but in this con- 
nection it is presumed the money value was small 
and the " measure " considerable. The king ap : 
pointed the lord who sneered at the prediction of 
the prophet, to guard the gate of the city when 
there was so great a crowd of excited people, 
that they crushed him under their feet, and he 
died, thus fulfilling the prediction of the prophet. 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 83 

Elisha told the Shunammite whose son had been 
restored to life, that there would be a famine for 
seven years, and advised her to go with all her 
family to some other country. She followed his 
advice, and went to the land of the Philistines, 
where she remained during the seven years of 
famine. At the close of this period, she returned 
to her own country, but her house and land had 
been occupied by others. 

On one occasion, while meeting with the serv- 
ant of Elisha, the king of Israel said to him, 
" Tell me all the wonderful things he has done." 
While the servant was relating the story of the 
Shunammite, she with her son came and appealed 
to the king for the restoration of their rights. 
The servant said, " My lord, O king, this is the 
woman, and this is her son whom the prophet 
restored to life." When he inquired of the woman 
herself, and after listening to her narrative, he 
appointed an officer to see that all her possessions 
were restored, and the value of the productions 
of her land during her absence. 

Elisha went to Damascus, and when Bed- 
hadad, king of Syria, who was sick, was informed 
that the " Man of God " had come to the city, he 
told Hazael, one of his officers, to take a present 
and go to him and inquire whether he would re- 
cover from his disease. Hazael collected valuable 
presents requiring forty camels to carry them, 



84 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

and coming to the prophet said, " Thy son Ben- 
hadad, king of Syria., has sent me to inquire 
whether he would recover from his illness." 
Elisha said, " Go and tell him he may recover, 
but the Lord hath shown me that he will surely 
die." The prophet then wept and when Hazael 
inquired the cause of his grief, the answer was, 
" Because I know the evil thou wilt do to the 
people of Israel. You will burn their strong- 
holds, slay the young men with the sword, and 
cruelly kill the women and children." Hazael re- 
plied, " Is thy servant a dog that he should do 
these evils ? " Whether he was deceiving by the 
question or was deceived is not certain. Elisha 
said, " The Lord hath shown me that thou wilt 
be king of Syria." This announcement may 
have incited him to commit the crimes of which 
he was guilty. When he returned to his royal 
master the latter inquired what Elisha told him. 
" He said thou certainly wilt recover." The 
treacherous officer of Ben-hadad, the next day, 
took a cloth, dipped it in water and suffocated 
the king by covering his face with it. Perhaps 
his master was too weak to offer any resistance, 
or he may not have suspected the object of his 
murderer. After this tragedy, the assassin seized 
the reins of government, and subsequently in- 
flicted upon the Israelites all the cruelties Elisha 
had foretold. 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 85 

Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets 
and gave him the following order, " Get ready 
for a journey, take this box of oil, go to Kamoth- 
Gilead, seek for Jehu and say to him, ' Come 
with me to an inner chamber,' then pour the oil 
on his head and say, ' The Lord hath anointed 
thee king of Israel.' After this cferemony, flee 
and do not tarry." The young prophet went to 
Ramoth-Gilead, as commanded, and found the 
officers of the army sitting together, when he 
said, " I have an errand to thee, O captain." 
Jehu inquired, " Which one of us ? " The an- 
swer was, " To thee, O captain," when Jehu 
and the prophet went into the house, the 
captain was anointed king of Israel, and re- 
ceived the command to smite the house of 
Ahab and avenge the blood of those destroyed 
by Jezebel. When Jehu returned to his com- 
pany, he was asked if all was well, and why the 
mad fellow 7 — meaning the young prophet — came 
to him. Jehu informed them he had been 
anointed king of Israel, when they hastily removed 
their mantles, and spread them on the top of the 
stairs, blew their trumpets and shouted, "Jehu 
is king." He rode in a chariot to Jezreel where 
Joram or Jehoram king of Israel was suffering 
from wounds received in a w^ar with Hazael, king 
of Syria. There was a watchman on the tower 
at Jezreel who saw at a distance, Jehu and his 



86 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

company, and informed the king, who ordered 
him to send a horseman to meet him and inquire, 
" Is it peace ? " When the messenger came to 
him, he said, " The king wishes to know if it is 
peace." Jehu said, " What hast thou to do with 
peace? Follow me." The watchman reported 
that the messenger came to Jehu, but did not re- 
turn. 

The king gave orders for his chariots, when 
Joram, king of Israel, and Ahaziah, king of 
Judah, each in his chariot, went in pursuit of 
Jehu and came up with him in the grounds of 
Naboth, the Jezreelite, when Joram inquired, 
" Is it peace ? " The answer was, " What peace 
so long as the sins of thy mother Jezebel are 
so many?" Joram turned and fled saying to 
Ahaziah, " There is treachery," when Jehu drew 
his bow and smote the king of Israel, and he 
sank down in his chariot, when orders were 
given to remove his body to the field of Naboth 
the Jezreelite. 

When Ahaziah saw what had happened to 
Joram, he fled, pursued by Jehu, who told his fol- 
lowers to smite him. He escaped to ' Megidclo 
and died there of his wounds, when his servants 
carried his remains to Jerusalem and buried 
them in the sepulchre of his fathers. When Jehu 
came to Jezreel, he caused the death of the mother 
of Joram, the wicked queen Jezebel, 



THE FAITHFUL FRIEND. 87 

Jehu's zeal led him to commit fearful cruelties 
among the families of Joram and Ahaziah. He 
ordered seventy of Ahab's children to be beheaded, 
and forty-two of Ahaziah's brethren to be slain, 
and also the priests of Baal, whose images he de- 
stroyed, yet strange to say, he adhered to some 
of the heathen practices of cotemporaries. ( See 
Kings of Israel.) 

The time had come for Elisha to be called 
home, to his reward, but before that event he 
had another message to deliver. During his last 
hours, the king of Israel came to see him and ex- 
claimed, u O my father ! the chariot of Israel 
and the horsemen thereof." Elisha told him to 
" Take a bow and arrows, open the window to- 
wards the east and shoot the arrow of the Lord's 
deliverance from Syria, for thou shalt smite the 
Syrians till thou hast destroyed them." Then the 
prophet said to the king, " Smite upon the 
ground." He smote three times and stopped. 
Elisha said, " You ought to have smitten five or 
six times, until the Syrians were completely over- 
thrown, but now thou shalt smite Syria only 
three times." 

After this interview Elisha died and was bur- 
ied, but a miracle was wrought after his death, 
though how long after is not known. As the 
Moabites were invading the kingdom of Israel, a 
dead man was being buried, when in haste those 



88 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

performing the ceremony, cast his body into the 
grave of Elisha. As soon as the corpse touched 
the bones of the prophet, the dead man came to 
life and stood upon his feet. 



The Kings of Judah. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE HEBREW SOVEREIGNS. 

Three kings governed the entire nation of the 
Israelites for a period of one hundred and twenty 
years, namely, Saul of the tribe of Benjamin, 
during forty years ; David of the tribe of Judah, 
during forty years ; Solomon, son of David, dur- 
ing forty years. 

When Rehoboam, son of Solomon succeeded 
his father, ten tribes revolted and formed a sep- 
arate government called The Kingdom of Israel, 
with its capital, first at Tirza a city of Ephraim, 
then at Samaria, a city built by Omri, king of 
Israel, who made it his capital. 

The remaining tribes including Judah and 
Benjamin constituted a government called The 
Kingdom of Judah with its capital at Jerusalem. 

Similar names are sometimes given to the kings 
of both nations, while many of the sovereigns of 
both were known by two different names, there- 

89 



90 BIBLE CHARACTERS, 

fore to avoid confusion of ideas a list of the 
rulers of the two nations is given with the period 
of their reigns. 

AFTEE THE SECESSION. 

Rehohoam, Abijah or Abijam, Asa. 

Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and Naanrah, an 
Ammonitess, succeeded his father at the age of 
forty-one, and reigned seventeen years, but his 
indiscreet policy caused ten tribes to revolt, and 
found a separate government known as the 
Kingdom of Israel. After the death of Solomon, 
his son went to Shechem to be crowned king 
over all the tribes, and when Jeroboam, son of 
Nebat, who had escaped to Egypt to save his 
life, heard that a king had been chosen, he re- 
turned to Palestine, and with a number of in- 
fluential people, went to the king and petitioned 
for relief from their burdens exacted by Solomon, 
saying, " Thy father made our yoke grievous, 
now, therefore, ease somewhat the burdens he 
laid upon us, and the heavy jo\q he made us 
bear, and we will serve thee." Rehoboam said to 
them, " Come again after three days," when he 
would make known his decision. 

In the meantime he held a council with the 
old men who had consulted with Solomon, his 
father, on public affairs. They said, " If thou 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 91 

art kind and wilt speak in a friendly manner, 
and wilt seek to please them, they will be thy 
servants," but the king did not accept their ad- 
vice, and consulted the young men of his ac- 
quaintance. Their counsel was the following : 
u Say to them that as my father made your yoke 
heavy, I will add to it ; and as he chastised you 
with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions," 
using an emphatic figure of speech. By scor- 
pions were meant thongs set with sharp iron 
points or nails. 

When Jeroboam and his followers came to the 
king on the third day to hear his decision, he an- 
swered them according to the advice of the 
young men. After the people heard it, they 
said, " What portion have we in David ? We 
have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every 
man to his tent, O Israel. ]STow, David, see to 
thy house." All the tribes except Judah and 
Benjamin seceded from the government of Re- 
hoboam, who sent Hadoram the treasurer of the 
tribute, perhaps to conciliate the revolters, when 
they stoned him to death. This alarmed the 
king who, fearing for his own life, fled in his 
chariot to Jerusalem. After arriving at the cap- 
ital, he collected 180,000 warriors to fight Israel, 
in order to restore the kingdom, but a prophet 
came to him with the message : " Thus saith the 
Lord, Ye shall not go to fight your brethren, 



92 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Return every man to his house, for this rebellion 
has been according to My will." They obeyed 
the message and did not go to war against Jero- 
boam. 

King Rehoboam was not without followers, 
for a large number of his countrymen still main- 
tained their allegiance to him. He gave his at- 
tention to building cities for defence, a necessary 
precaution against his enemies. These cities, 
fifteen in all throughout Judah and Benjamin, 
were surrounded by Avails. He also fortified his 
strongholds or fortresses, by greater securities, 
and placed in them shields, spears, stores of food, 
oil and wine, and appointed captains to command 
these forts. From these military preparations, 
he appears to have expected future trouble with 
the rebellious tribes, at least for his successors, 
which did occur many times for centuries. 

The priests and Levites in Israel left their pos- 
sessions and came to the king of Judah, because 
Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from 
the priests' office, and had ordained priests for 
the " High Places," for devils, and for the gold 
calves. However, those decided to seek the Lord 
God of Israel, from all the tribes, came to Jeru- 
salem to offer sacrifices, and during several years, 
they followed the example of David and Solo- 
mon — before his apostasy — in religious services. 

According to the customs of the times, Reho- 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 93 

boam was a polygamist and had a number of 
wives and children. He appointed Abijah, one 
of his sons, ruler over his brethren, dispersed his 
large family throughout the regions of Judah 
and Benjamin, and furnished them with food in 
abundance. 

Unfortunately, Rehoboam, after being estab- 
lished in his government, forsook the Lord, and 
was supported in his apostasy by his subjects, 
therefore as a punishment, the Lord permitted 
an enemy to invade his kingdom. This was 
Shishak, king of Egypt, who came with 1,200 
chariots, 60,000 cavalry, and a very large num- 
ber of infantry. They captured many of the 
walled cities of Judah, and then came to the 
capital, when a prophet was sent to Rehoboam 
and the princes, who had come to Jerusalem on 
account of the danger, with the message, " Ye 
have forsaken Me, saith the Lord, therefore I 
have left you in the hand of Shishak." When 
they heard this message, the king and princes 
humbled themselves and exclaimed, " The Lord 
is righteous." When another communication was 
received, that because they had humbled them- 
selves, they should not be destroyed, but they 
would become servants of the king of Egypt, 
who came to Jerusalem and took away the treas- 
ures of the house of the Lord, also of the royal 
palace, including the gold shields Solomon made. 



*94 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

After this plunder, Rehoboam made shields of 
brass and gave them to the guard who kept 
the entrance to the palace. They were finally 
placed in the guard-chamber. Rehoboam strength- 
ened the fortifications in Jerusalem, but he did 
not seek the Lord with all his heart, and his 
reign was disturbed by frequent wars with Jero- 
boam, king of Israel. After the death of Eeho- 
boam, he was succeeded by his son Abijah, who 
reigned three years. His public measures were 
open to criticism, but his descendants were es- 
tablished in the royal line, " for David's sake," 
as it is expressed. 

There was war between the rival powers of 
Judah and Israel during the reign of Abijah, and 
after his death, his son Asa, one of the eminent 
kings of Judah, succeeded him as sovereign. 

The name Asa in the Hebrew language signi- 
fies healer, or physician. Asa began his reign 
about 955 B. c. it is reckoned, and continued it 
forty-one years, the third in length of the kings 
of Judah. Though his father neglected the serv- 
ice of God, Asa was a righteous king and re- 
spected the laws of Moses. He is represented ' 
by his biographers as a man " whose heart was per- 
fect with the Lord all his days," but this does not 
mean he was without faults, as the record of his 
life proves, but refers, doubtless, to his public 
acts generally. He, however, sometimes erred in 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 95 

his management of government affairs and was 
reproved by the messengers of the Lord. Asa 
lived in a degenerate age, and was cotemporary 
with some of the wicked kings of Israel, but he 
attempted to reform the sinful practices of his 
countrymen. He began his reign by deposing 
Maachah his mother, from the office and dignity 
of. queen, because she erected an image to the 
goddess Astarte, which the king burned in the 
valley of Hinnom. He removed the Sodomites, 
from his dominions, and destroyed the idols his 
countrymen had made, and brought the silver, 
gold, and sacred vessels into the house of the 
Lord. 

During his reign there were hostilities with 
Baasha, king of Israel, who made an expedition 
to the kingdom of Judah, and began the construc- 
tion of Ramah as a fortified place, to prevent any 
one from joining Asa. This induced the king of 
Judah to form an alliance with Ben-hadad, king 
of Syria, and send messengers to Damascus with 
presents of silver, and gold taken from the house 
of the Lord and from the king's palace. The en- 
voys were instructed to say to the Syrian king, 
" There is a league between thee and me. Break 
thy league with Baasha, king of Israel, that he 
may depart from me." 

Ben-hadad consented to Asa's proposal, and 
sent captains of his army with their forces who 



96 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

captured some of the cities of Israel. When 
Baasha heard of it, he abandoned Ramah and 
retired to Tirzah, then the capital of his king- 
dom. 

Asa issued a proclamation and sent it through- 
out his dominions, that the stones intended for 
building Ramah, should be taken for the con- 
struction of the cities of Greba and Mizpah. 
After the alliance of Asa with the king of Syria, 
Hanani the prophet, came to him and said, "Be- 
cause thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and 
not on the Lord thy God, therefore the host of 
Syria will escape out of thy hand. Thou hast 
acted foolishly, therefore henceforth thou shalt 
have wars." Asa was angry with the prophet, 
cast him into prison and oppressed some of the 
people, those probably who sustained the 
prophet's cause. 

The king said to his subjects, " Let us build 
cities with walls and gates of brass while we 
possess the land, that we may be defended against 
the dangers of war." He had an army of 300,000 
men of the tribe of Judah who used targets and 
spears, and 280,000 of the tribe of Benjamin who 
carried shields and used the bow, "all mighty 
men of valor " as it is expressed. 

The Ethiopians commanded by Zerah, with an 
army of 1,000,300 men and 300 chariots invaded 
the kingdom of Judah. Asa rallied his forces 




Huldah and the Book of the Law. 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH, 97 

and went to meet them, when an encounter took 
place in the valley of Zephathah, at Mareshah. 
The king of Judah, on this occasion, did not trust 
in his army alone for success, but he sought 
Divine assistance. He said, " Lord, it is nothing 
with Thee to assist whether with many or with 
them who have no power. Help us, O Lord our 
God, for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name go 
against this multitude. O Lord our God, let no 
man prevail against Thee." 

The battle began when victory was on the side 
of the weakest, and the vast army of the Ethio- 
pians fled and were pursued by the conquerors as 
far as Gerar, in the south of Judah. They were 
in such haste to escape, they left great spoils 
which the victors took, and smote all the cities 
about Gerar, destroyed the tents for the cattle 
and drove away the sheep and camels left by the 
enemy in great numbers, and then returned to 
Jerusalem. 

The prophet Azariah went to meet Asa and his 
soldiers, and said to them, "Hear me, Asa and 
all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you 
as long as you are with Him. If ye seek Him, 
He will be found, but if ye forsake Him, He will 
forsake you. For a long time, Israel has been 
without the true God, without a priest to teach 
them, and without law, but when in their trouble, 
they turned to the Lord God of Israel, He was 



98 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

found of them. In those times there was no 
peace, and only great tribulation when they were 
conquered by other nations, and their cities were 
destroyed. Be ye strong and you will receive a 
reward." 

When Asa heard these words, he was encour- 
aged, and gathering his subjects with those of 
the other tribes who followed him when they 
saw the Lord was with him, he returned to Jeru- 
salem and offered the spoils taken from the 
enemy, comprising 700 oxen, and 7,0.00 sheep, and 
made a covenant to serve the Lord with all the 
heart and soul, and that whoever should not seek 
Him should be put to death, whether old or 
young, man or woman. The people responded 
to the covenant with shouts and sounds of 
trumpets and cornets. 

The deliverance of the people of Judah from 
imminent peril was remarkable since the danger 
occurred before their alliance with the Syrians, 
therefore they did not expect any assistance from 
them. 

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was 
afflicted with a disease in his feet which caused 
great suffering, and perhaps his death. He 
sought help from physicians, but they could 
afford him no relief. He died after a reign of 
forty-one years and was buried in the sepulchre 
he made for himself in Jerusalem. His tomb 



THE KINGS OF JUDAB. 99 

was filled with sweet odors and different spices 
prepared by apothecaries. It is said the people 
made a very great burning for him which may 
have been sacrifices on the occasion of his burial, 
to show their respect and attachment to their 
departed king. 

The reforms of Asa consisted mainly in re- 
moving the altars of false gods and the high 
places, where heathen worship was offered, in 
destroying the images of pagan divinities and 
cutting down the groves dedicated to them, and 
enjoining upon his subjects the worship of the 
true God. During a period of ten years' peace 
with other nations, he gave his attention to im- 
proving his own dominions, and building new 
cities. 

The Scriptures represent Asa as an example of 
ardent zeal for the worship of the Supreme God, 
which was true, yet like all human beings he had 
faults. He neglected to destroy all the High 
Places which may have been to conciliate those 
inclined to idolatry. His application to the 
Syrians for assistance was inexcusable, since it 
implied a distrust in the power and goodness of 
the Lord, while his treatment of the prophet 
whom he sent to prison, and the punishment of 
some of his subjects for their sympathy for the 
persecuted man of God, prove that a distin- 
guished reformer and eminent king was not a 

4>c- 



100 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

perfect example to. follow in every respect, yet, 
aside from these faults, Asa was one of the illus- 
trious kings of Judah and a benefactor to his 
nation, in a time of great peril on account of the 
degeneracy of the age in which he lived. He 
was succeeded in the government by his son 
Jehoshaphat, an honorable and worthy successor 
to his illustrious father. 



CHAPTEE YIIL 

JEHOSHAPHAT, JORAM OR JEHORAM, AHAZIAH 
OR AZARIAH. 

The fourth king of Judah named Jehoshaphat, 
son of Asa, ascended the throne at the age of 
thirty-five, and reigned twenty-five years, or as 
it is computed, from 914 b. c. to 889. B. c. He 
was cotemporary with Ahab and Ahaziah, kings 
of Israel, though he did not follow their example. 
It is said by his biographer, that, " He walked in 
the ways of David, and did not serve Baal, but 
sought the Lord God of his fathers," therefore 
he was firmly established in his government. 

On his accession to the throne, he began to 
strengthen his kingdom by placing military 
forces in all the walled cities of Judah, and 
garrisons throughout the country and in those 
cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had cap- 
tured. He appointed five princes, assisted by 
priests and Levites, to instruct the people in the 
different cities of his kingdom, who carried with 
them copies of the Book of the Law of the Lord. 
These princes and priests were travelling mis- 
sionaries, b*ut there is no special record of their 

10X 



102 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

labors, though these messengers of truth, doubt- 
less, faithfully performed their duty, while the 
plan is creditable to Jehoshaphat. His influence 
was recognized by cotemporary nations, and 
they considered it the safest policy not to engage 
in a war with him. Even the Philistines, a for- 
midable enemy of his nation, brought him pres- 
ents in silver, and the Arabians gave him flocks, 
comprising 7,700 sheep and 7,700 goats, The 
character of the gifts presented by the Arabs sug- 
gests the idea that the chief occupation of this 
ancient nation was that of shepherds. The 
recognition of his power by foreign countries, 
increased the popularity and wealth of the king 
of Judah, and he constructed storehouses for his 
use, and castles for defence. His army at Jeru- 
salem, composed of the most valiant soldiers 
whose commander-in-chief, Aclmah, had under his 
direct control 300,000 soldiers, and next to him 
in rank was Jehohanan with 280,000. The third 
was Amariah commanding 200,000, the fourth, 
Eliada of the tribe of Benjamin with 200,000 
armed with bow and shield, and the fifth was 
Jehozabad with 180,000 men. The whole num- 
ber comprised 1,160,000 soldiers regarded as 
" mighty men of valor." 

Jehoshaphat formed an alliance with Ahab, 
king of Israel, which proved a dangerous league. 
He was engaged in a war with the Syrians and in- 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 103 

vited the king of Judah to accompany him in his 
campaign against the enemy. His confederate, 
Jehoshaphat, replied, " I am as thou art, and my 
people as thy people." Jehoshaphat then re- 
quested Ahab to inquire of the Lord about the 
result, when four hundred prophets were sum- 
moned to inform them about it. " Shall we go 
to Eamoth-Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear ? " 
was the question. They all said, " Go, for the 
Lord will deliver it into thy hands." Jehosha- 
phat inquired, "Is there not a prophet besides 
these of whom we may inquire ? " The king of 
Israel replied, " There is one, Micaiah, but I 
hate him, for he always prophesies evil of me." 
" Do not say so," the king of Judah answered. 

Ahab called one of his officers and gave orders 
to bring the prophet Micaiah immediately, when 
he was conducted into the presence of the two 
kings, each sitting upon his throne, near the gate 
of the city of Samaria, and clothed in their royal 
garments, with all the prophets standing about 
them. One, named Zedekiah, had made horns of 
iron, and said, " With these horns thou shalt push 
Syria until they be consumed." All the four 
hundred prophets responded by saying, " Go to 
Eamoth-Gilead, for the Lord will deliver it into 
the hand of the king." This was a city east of 
the Jordan, in the mountainous region of Gilead, 
and was sometimes called Ramathan or Ara- 



104 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

matha. The country in this vicinity was cele- 
brated for its beautiful scenery, therefore was a 
desirable possession. 

The messengers sent to bring Micaiah to the 
king, told him of the favorable prophecy that 
had been delivered, and advised him to predict 
success for his majesty, when the prophet replied, 
" What my God saith, that will I speak." When 
he came to the kings, Ahab said, " Shall we go 
to Ramoth-Gilead ? " The reply was, " Go and 
prosper, for it shall be delivered into thy hands." 
The king, probably, believed the prophet spoke 
ironically, for he said, " How many times shall I 
adjure thee that thou say nothing to me but the 
truth ? " Micaiah then replied, " I see all Israel 
scattered as . sheep on the mountains without a 
shepherd, and the Lord said, 'These have no 
master ; let them return to their homes in peace.' " 

Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, " Did I not tell thee 
he \%ould prophesy only evil ? " Then Micaiah 
said, " Hear the word of the Lord. I saw Him 
sitting upon His throne and all the host of heaven 
standing on His right hand and on His left. He 
said, ' Who will entice Ahab, king of Israel, that 
he may go and fall at Ramoth-Gilead ? ' There 
was a difference in their answers, one proposing 
one thing and another a different one, when fi- 
nally a certain spirit said, 'I will entice him.' 
' How shall it be done ? ? it was asked. ' I will 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 105 

be a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets, 
and will say, go.' " Zedekiah smote Micaiah on 
the cheek, saying, " Which way went the spirit 
of the Lord from me to speak to thee ? " The 
prophet replied, " Thou wilt see when thou shalt 
go into the inner chamber to hide thyself." Ahab 
commanded his officers to conduct Micaiah the 
prophet, to Amon, the governor of the city, and 
Joash, the king's son, and tell them to put him in 
prison and feed him with the bread and water of 
affliction until I return in peace. "If thou re- 
turn in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. 
Listen to me, all ye people," said Micaiah. The 
kings of Israel and Judah went to Eamoth- 
Gilead to meet the Syrians, when Ahab said to 
Jehoshaphat, " I will disguise myself, but do you 
put on my raiment in order to deceive them." 
The king of Syria commanded the captains of his 
chariots to fight with none but the king of Israel, 
and when they saw Jehoshaphat, they supposed 
he was Ahab, therefore they made an attack 
upon him, but he besought the Lord for deliver- 
ance, and when the Syrians learned that he was 
not the king of Israel, they gave up the pursuit. 
After this incident a certain man drew his bow 
and sent an arrow at a venture, w r hich smote 
Ahab between the joints of his armor, when he 
said, " Carry me out of the host, for I am 
wounded." However, he remained in his chariot 



106 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

until the close of the battle at evening, when he 
died, and Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem, 
when Jehu, a prophet, went to him and said, 
" Ought you to help the ungodly, and love them 
that hate the Lord ? There is indignation against 
thee, though thou hast performed righteous deeds 
by removing the groves and preparing the people 
to seek the Lord." 

Jehoshaphat, after the disaster at Ramoth- 
Gilead, made another journey throughout his 
dominions to encourage his subjects to serve the 
Lord God of their fathers, and appointed judges 
in the country and the walled cities, saying to 
these officials, " Take heed what ye do, for ye 
judge not for me, but for the Lord. Let the fear 
of the Lord be with you, for He has no respect 
for persons or gifts." He then denoted the spe- 
cial duties of the priests and Levites, and closed 
his directions by saying, " Deal courageously and 
the Lord will be with those who do right." 

The kingdom of Juclah was invaded by an 
army of Moabites and Ammonites, and Avhen 
Jehoshaphat was informed of the danger, he 
feared the result, and proclaimed a fast to be ob- 
served throughout all the land of Juclah, when 
the people assembled at the capital to seek Di- 
vine aid. The king, standing in the house of 
the Lord, offered a prayer, appealing to God say- 
ing, " O Lord God of our fathers, art not Thou 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 107 

God in heaven, and rulest over the kingdoms of 
the heathen, and in Thy hand are not power and 
might so that no one is able to withstand Thee ? " 
He added, " Art not Thou the God who gave this 
land to Thy people Israel ? They have built 
Thee a sanctuary and when war, judgment, 
pestilence and famine visit us, and we cry to 
Thee in our affliction, wilt not Thou hear and 
help us ? Behold, how the people of Moab and 
Ammon reward us for the kindness of our 
fathers in their journey from Egypt. O God, 
wilt not Thou judge them, for we have no power 
to meet that great army and we know not what 
to do, — but we look to Thee." When the king 
was offering this pra} 7 er, the people including the 
women and children, were standing about him, and 
a Levite at the close of the petition exclaimed, 
"Hearken, ye people of Judah and inhabitants 
of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, thus 
saith the Lord, ' Be not discouraged because of 
the great multitude, for the battle is not yours, 
but God's ; to-morrow advance to meet the 
enemy. They come by the cliff Ziz, and ye shall 
meet them at the brook near the wilderness of 
Jeruel ; but ye will not fight. Arrange your 
forces, stand still and see the salvation of the 
Lord for He will be with you.' " 

Jehoshaphat and his subjects bowed with their 
faces to the ground and worshipped the Lord 



108 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

while the priests and Levites praised Him with 
loud voices. Early the next morning the king, 
with his followers, went to the wilderness of 
Tekoa, when he addressed them saying, 
" Hearken, O Juclah, and inhabitants of Jeru- 
salem, believe in the Lord your God, and ye shall 
be established, and believe in his prophets, and 
ye shall prosper." When the king had consulted 
with the people, he appointed singers to go be- 
fore the soldiers, praising the Lord, and when 
they began to sing, those lying in ambush arose 
and rushed upon their comrades who were seized 
with a panic and killed one another. When the 
army of Judah came to the wilderness, they saw 
the dead bodies of their foes and a great abun- 
dance of rich spoils left by the enemy, such as 
precious jewels and other valuable articles, more 
than could be collected at once, and they were 
three days gathering the spoils. On the fourth 
day, they came to the valley of Berachah, where 
they halted and offered praise and thanks to the 
Lord for their deliverance, and then returned to 
Jerusalem conducted by the king and attended 
by the musicians with their harps and trumpets. 
When other nations heard of the remarkable de- 
liverance of the king of Judah, they proclaimed 
the news and his name became famous. 

After his alliance with Ahab and its unfortu- 
nate results, it is unaccountable that Jehoshaphat 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 109 

should form another with Ahaziah, the successor 
of the late king of Israel who is represented as a 
wicked ruler. This alliance was for "th6 purpose 
of constructing ships to sail to Tarshish to obtain 
gold, therefore Eliezer uttered a prophecy against 
the king of Judah, saying, " Because thou hast 
joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy 
thy works." The prediction proved true, as the 
ships were wrecked. 

Jehoshaphat died after reigning tw r enty-nine 
years, was buried in the city of David and suc- 
ceeded by his son Joram or Jehoram. He had 
other sons to whom he left valuable possessions, 
such as silver, gold and other precious things be- 
sides walled cities, but the crown he bestowed 
upon Jehoram. 

The public acts of Jehoshaphat were generally in 
conformity to the Divine will ; those of a different 
character have been mentioned. His reforms, how- 
ever, were not always thorough, and he may have 
been sometimes influenced by state policy. He 
had faults, since he was human, and occasionally he 
seemed determined to have his own way, right or 
wrong, and for this he w T as rebuked by the proph- 
ets, but with all his errors he remains in history as 
one of the illustrious kings of Judah, and a faith- 
ful servant of the Lord in most of his public acts, 

Joram or Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, suc- 
ceeded his father at the age of thirty-two, and 



110 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

reigned eight years. He married the daughter 
of Ahab and followed the example of the kings 
of Israel. During his reign, the Edomites who 
had been brought under the control of the people 
of Judah, revolted and elected a king for them- 
selves. This rebellion caused a war with their 
masters, when king Joram went to Zair with his 
forces, made a night attack upon the Edomites 
who were defeated and fled to their tents, but 
they were not completely subdued, and therefore 
gave frequent trouble to their neighbors. 

Joram died at the age of forty years, and was 
succeeded by his son Ahaziah or Azariah, as he V 
was also called, when twenty-two years of age, 
and reigned only one year. Being related to the 
family of Ahab he adopted their views in reli- 
gion, which were idolatrous. He formed an alli- 
ance with the king of Israel, whose name also 
was Joram, the son of Ahab, to carry on a war 
with the Syrians, when in a battle, the king of 
Israel was wounded, and returned to Jezreel to 
be cured. Ahaziah made a visit to the w^ounded 
king and w r as slain by Jehu, who also put to 
death the king of Israel. When Athaliah, the 
mother of Ahaziah, and daughter of Omri, king 
of Israel, heard of his death, she slew all the royal 
family except one member who was concealed, and 
seized the reins of government which she ruled six 
years, and then came to a tragical death. 



CHAPTER IX. 

JOASH OR JEHOASH, AMAZIAH, UZZIAH OR AZA- 
IAH, JOTHIM, AHAZ. 

The history of Joash or Jehoash, king of 
Judah, is remarkable for its romance and its 
tragical ending. He began his reign, it is reck- 
oned, less than a century after Asa, and from 
two to three centuries before Hezekiah. He was 
the son of king Ahaziah, and grandson of queen 
Athaliah. His father occupied the throne only 
one year when he was slain by Jehu. When 
queen Athaliah ordered all the royal princes of 
Judah to be put to death, Joash, then an infant, 
was concealed with his nurse, in a bedchamber, 
and was kept in privacy six years. During that 
time, Athaliah governed the kingdom of Judah, 
but in the seventh year of her reign, Jehoiada, 
the priest, summoned the Levites and elders in 
Judah and went to Jerusalem, when the people 
made a covenant with young prince Joash, in the 
house of the Lord, that he should reign over 
Judah. 

A plan was formed in the following manner. 
One-third of the people were to act as porters of 

ill 



112 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

the doors ; one-third as guards for the palace ; 
and one-third as watchmen at the gates. Be- 
sides these officers, there were guards placed in 
the courts of the Lord's house, to prevent any 
one, except the Levites, from entering, and if 
any one presumed to enter, besides the priests, 
he was to be put to death. 

The Levites and the people followed the di- 
rections of Jehoiada the priest who gave to the 
captains of hundreds, spears, bucklers, and shields 
that had belonged to David, and were kept in 
the house of the Lord. These preparations 
were made to avoid insurrections at the corona- 
tion of the young prince Joash. Jehoiada ar- 
ranged the men, each with his weapon in his 
hand, standing from the right to the left side of 
the Temple, near the altar, and about the king. 
Then they brought Joash, the young prince, and 
placed the crown on his head, while the priests 
anointed him and shouted " God save the king." 

When Athaliah heard the noise of the multi- 
tude running and extolling the king, she came 
to the house of the Lord, and as she saw the 
young king standing by the pillar at the en- 
trance, and the princes with the people rejoicing 
and sounding trumpets, and the singers with in- 
struments of music, she rent her clothes and 
cried, " treason, treason." Jehoiada ordered the 
captains to remove, and slay her, but not in the 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 113 

house of the Lord, therefore she was conducted 
to the " horsegate," and put to death. Jehoiada 
then made a covenant between the king and peo- 
ple, that they should serve the Lord. They went 
to the temple of Baal, overthrew it with its altars 
and images and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, 
before his altar. Jehoiada appointed the officers 
of the house of the Lord, and called together 
the captains of hundreds, nobles, and governors 
with others, and brought the king from the 
house of the Lord to the palace and placed him 
upon the throne. He was seven years old,« at 
the time of his coronation, and reigned forty 
years. 

Some years after his coronation, he decided to 
repair the house of the Lord which had been 
neglected, and called together the priests and 
Levites for their instructions. They were to go 
to the different cities of Judah and collect money 
for this object. " See," said the king, " that ye 
hasten the work." This last injunction they did 
not heed, when the king called for Jehoiada and 
said, "Why hast thou required the Levites to 
take a collection ? Was it not to repair the 
house of the Lord ? " The sons of Athaliah had 
taken all the objects dedicated to the Lord and 
given them to Baal. At the command of king 
Joash, they made a chest and placed it without 
the gate of the house of the Lord, when a proc- 



114 BIBLE CHA RA CTERS. 

lamatibn was issued to bring the collection that 
was required by the law of Moses. All his sub- 
jects were pleased with the plan, and cast into 
the chest their offerings which were brought to 
the office of the king, when his scribe and the 
officers of the high priest emptied the chest and 
returned it to its place. This they did day by 
day, and collected a large sum of money which 
was given to the workmen, masons, carpenters 
and others, who wrought in iron, and brass for 
the repair of the house. The work went for- 
ward until it was finished, when they brought 
the money that was left, to the king and Jehoi- 
ada, which was given for sacred vessels and 
spoons made of gold and silver. 

After these repairs, the people made their of- 
ferings to the Lord, during the life of Jehoiada 
the priest, who died at the advanced age of one 
hundred and thirty years, and was buried in the 
city of David among the kings, as an honor for 
his fidelity to the Lord and to the king, but after 
his death, there was a sad decline. 

The princes of Judah came to the king and 
persuaded him to forsake the Lord God of their 
fathers and serve idols, when prophets were sent 
to persuade them to return to Him, but they 
would not listen to them. Zechariah the son of 
Jehoiada said to the people, "Why do you 
transgress the commands of the Lord ? Because 



THE KINGS OF JUDAR. 115 

ye have forsaken Him, He will forsake you." 
They were offended and conspired to kill the 
priest at the command of Joash the king who 
forgot the kindness of Jehoiada, and killed his 
son. It was the wife of Jehoiada who concealed 
the young prince from Athaliah who intended to 
murder him. 

At the close of the year, an army of Syrians 
invaded the kingdom of Judah, and coming to 
Jerusalem, killed the princes and sent the spoils 
to Damascus, and many of the people of Judah 
were taken captive. A conspiracy against the 
king was formed by his servants who assassinated 
him when he was sick in his bed, in revenge 
for his murder of the sons of Jehoiada. He was 
buried in the city of David but not in the sepul- 
chre of the kings, and was succeeded in the gov- 
ernment by Amaziah his son. 

" The remarkable history of the childhood of 
Joash," says one writer, "the beginning of a 
promising reign, his thorough reforms, his 
method of collecting funds for the repair of the 
Temple were so successful, that the sad degener- 
acy of his later years and his tragical death are 
all the more pathetic." His reforms were, doubt- 
less, largely due to the influence of Jehoiada, 
whose death was a great calamity to the king, as 
it revealed his weakness. 

The eighth king of Judah after the revolt, was 



116 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Amaziah, son of Joash, who began to reign at 
the age of twenty-five, and held the reins of gov- 
ernment twenty-nine years. His public life was 
not faultless, though he did many things that 
were right and for the benefit of his subjects. 
He followed the example of his father in his re- 
forms, though he neglected to remove the " High 
Places" where heathen rites were performed. 
After his accession to the throne, he ordered the 
murderers of his father to be executed, though 
he did not include their children in the list, as 
was frequently done by other nations, for the 
laws of his countrymen forbade the fathers suf- 
fering for their children, or the children suffering 
for the deeds of their fathers. 

Amaziah appointed captains of companies com- 
prising thousands of men, and other captains 
over hundreds, throughout the tribes of Judah 
and Benjanun, according to their families. He 
took the number of those from twenty years old 
and over, and found there were 300,000 able men 
for his army that could handle the spear and 
shield. He also hired 100,000 valiant warriors 
from Israel, for 100 talents of silver which, ac- 
cording to different estimates, were equal to 
$164,500 or $191,600. These preparations were 
for an expedition against the Edomites. 

A man of God came to him and said, " O king, 
let not the army of Israel go with thee, for the 



TEE KINGS OF JUDAH. 117 

Lord is not with them, but if thou wilt go against 
the Edomites, be strong for the battle." Ama- 
ziah said, " What shall we do about the one hun- 
dred talents I have given the army of Israel ? " 
The prophet said, " The Lord is able to give thee 
much more than that." 

The king separated the soldiers who had en- 
listed from Ephraim, and se»nt them away. They 
were very angry on this account and resolved on 
having revenge, therefore they made an attack 
upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth- 
Horan, killing 3,000 of the inhabitants and tak- 
ing much spoil. 

Having sent his auxiliaries away, Amaziah in- 
creased the number of his own forces, marched 
to the " Valley of Salt," attacked the Edomites 
and killed 100,000 people of Seir, and captured 
10,000 whom he conducted to the top of a preci- 
pice, and cast them down and killed them. After 
the battle, Amaziah took the gods of Seir, set 
them up as divinities, burned incense and offered 
sacrifices to them, therefore the anger of the Lord 
was aroused against him, and He sent a prophet 
to him inquiring, " Why hast thou sought after 
the gods of the people of Seir ? They could not 
deliver their own worshippers." The king said, 
" Art thou the king's counsel ? Forbear, why 
shouldst thou be smitten?" The man of God 
replied, " I know the Lord hath determined to 



118 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

destroy thee, because thou hast not hearkened 
unto my counsel." 

Encouraged by his success against the Edom- 
ites, Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash king 
of Israel to challenge him to a conflict of arms, 
when he received the following reply, " The 
thistle in Lebanon sent to the cedar, saying, 
4 Give thy daughter to my son for a wife,' when 
a wild beast passed by and trod down the thistle." 
In this sarcastic reply, Jehoash intended, doubt- 
less, to represent the king of Judah by the this- 
tle, and the king of Israel by the cedar. " Thou 
hast, indeed, smitten Edom," said the king of 
Israel, " and thy heart is lifted up. Glory not 
in this to thy hurt, and fall, thou and Judah 
with thee." 

Amaziah did not heed this advice, but engaged 
in a battle with the king of Israel at Beth- 
Shemesh, a place in the kingdom of Judah, — 
when the rash king was defeated and his soldiers 
fled each to his tent, leaving Amaziah, who was 
taken prisoner. The conquerors came to Jeru- 
salem, broke down the wall at the distance of 
four hundred cubits, took all the gold and silver 
and sacred vessels from the house of the Lord 
and the treasures in the king's palace, and some of 
the citizens as hostages, and returned to Samaria. 

After Amaziah was restored to his kingdom, 
he continued his reign several years, but finally 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 119 

met with a tragical death. A conspiracy was 
formed to assassinate him, and when he 'became 
aware of the plot, he fled to Lachish near the 
border of Philistria, hoping, perhaps, to find 
safety with a foreign nation, but the conspirators 
followed him and accomplished their purpose. 

His remains were taken to Jerusalem, and 
buried with those of his fathers. His death, it is 
said, was followed by an interregnum of eleven 
years, when his son Uzziah ascended the throne. 

After the death of Amaziah, the people of 
Judah chose Uzziah his son, a young prince, six- 
teen years of age, for their king. His reign con- 
tinued fifty-two years, one of the longest of the 
sovereigns of Judah. He is represented as a 
wise and just ruler, observing the laws of God 
during the life of the prophet Zechariah, and 
was prosperous when he kept his commands. 
However, he allowed the " High Places " to re- 
main where the people burnt sacrifices, contrary 
to the law, and for assuming the office of the 
priests, he was smitten with the leprosy which 
afflicted him the remainder of his life. 

Like some of his predecessors, he became in- 
volved in a war with the Philistines, during 
which he captured the cities of Gath, Jabneh, 
and Ashdod, demolished their walls, and con- 
structed other cities in the region ; he was 
also successful in a conflict with the Arabians, 



120 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

News of his victories spread abroad even to the 
borders of Egypt, and the Ammonites sent him 
presents as an acknowledgment of their respect 
and friendship. 

Uzziah won distinction by his architectural 
works. He built towers at the gates of Jeru- 
salem and fortified them, and he also constructed 
towers in the desert, and dug wells for his use as 
he owned large herds of cattle in the plains and 
lower regions of the country. He employed 
husbandmen and vine-dressers among the moun- 
tains especially Carmel, for Uzziah loved hus- 
bandry, as it is expressed, as did many other 
ancient kings. 

He kept a large standing army that went to 
war by bands or detachments, probably, accord- 
ing to their numbers as reckoned by a scribe, 
ruler, and captain. The whole number of leaders, 
chiefs, or captains in the army was 2,600, while 
the soldiers under their command were 307,500 
valiant warriors. The king prepared for their 
use, military weapons, such as shields, spears, 
helmets, bows and slings, and caused engines, the 
work of skillful men, to be placed in the towers 
and on the bulwarks at Jerusalem. The fame of 
Uzziah as a powerful king reached other nations, 
and, doubtless, made him proud and self-sufficient, 
which led him to transgress the law by assuming 
the office of priest and going into the Temple to 



Co 



^ 

^ 



Ox? 




THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 121 

burn incense. This was a sacrilegious act, and he 
was followed to the altar by Azariah the high 
priest and eighty other priests, who reproved 
the king, saying, "It does not belong to thee, 
Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord ; this be- 
longs to the priests only, sons of Aaron who are 
consecrated to this office. Leave the sanctuary, 
for thou hast trespassed, and it will not be for 
thine honor." The king who was holding a 
censer in his hand, for burning incense, was 
greatly offended with the priests for their rebuke, 
and while in this state of mind, the leprosy ap- 
peared on his forehead in the presence of *the 
priests, when they said he was smitten with that 
dreadful disease, and hurried him out of the 
Temple, the king himself hastening to depart. 
He remained a leper the remainder of his days, 
dwelt in a separate house, and was never allowed 
to go to the house of the Lord nor perform the 
duties of a king which were discharged by his 
son Jotham as regent. 

After the death of his father, he was chosen 
king at the age of twenty-five, and reigned six- 
teen years. He was disposed to govern accord- 
ing to the Divine will, and like many of his 
nation, he was fond of erecting new buildings. 
He made some improvements at Jerusalem and 
constructed cities in the mountainous regions of 
Judea, and castles and towers in the forests. He 



122 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

was successful in a war with the Ammonites and 
made them tributary so that he received from 
them, one hundred talents of silver and large 
quantities of grain from time to time, during three 
years. However, he did not remove the " High 
Places " where the people performed religious 
rites contrary to the law. He was succeeded 
by Ahaz his son. 

Ahaz, the successor of Jotham, began to reign 
at the age of twenty, and was king of Judah six- 
teen years. He pursued the heathen practices of 
the kings of Israel ; offered sacrifices on " High 
Pla'ces," under green trees and on hills, and even 
offered his children to Moloch as burnt-offerings. 
He became tributary to Tiglath-pileser, king of 
Assyria, and when Rezin, king of Syria, and 
Pekah, king of Israel, came to Jerusalem and laid 
siege to the city, Ahaz sent messengers to the 
king of Assyria, saying, " I am thy servant and 
thy son. Come and save me from the kings of 
Syria and Israel, who rise up against me." He 
took silver and gold from the house of the Lord 
and valuable treasures from the royal palace, and 
sent them as presents to Tiglath-pileser, who ac- 
cepted the gifts. He was then engaged in a war 
with the Syrians and had taken Damascus, their 
capital, and slain Rezin, the king. Ahaz went to 
Damascus to meet the king of Assyria, and when 
he saw an altar which pleased him, he sent a pat- 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 123 

tern of it to Urijah the priest, who made one ac- 
cording to the pattern sent him. "When Ahaz 
returned from Damascus, he offered sacrifices 
upon the altar and commanded the priest to 
make the offerings according to his directions. 
He also made moulten images for Baal, and did 
many other things contrary to the laws of Moses, 
and as a punishment he was delivered into the 
hands of the kings of Syria and Israel. During 
the war, Pekah, king of Israel, slew in one day 
120,000 of the subjects of Ahaz, including the 
king's son and the governor of his house, and 
200,000 were taken captives together with great 
spoils, and brought to Samaria. 

The prophet Oded came to the army of Israel, 
and said, " Because the Lord God of your fathers 
was angry with Judah, He delivered them into 
your hand, and ye have slain them with great 
rage that reaches to heaven, and now ye purpose 
to keep the children of Judah for servants, but 
are there not with yourselves sins against the 
Lord your God ? Now hear me. Deliver these 
captives, for the wrath of the Lord is upon you." 
Then certain men of Ephraim addressed the sol- 
diers of the Israelites in charge of the prisoners, 
saying, " Ye shall not bring in the captives. We 
have sinned already against the Lord, and do ye 
intend to add to our sins, for our trespass is great 
and there is fierce wrath against Israel ? " When 



124 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

the soldiers heard these words, they left the cap- 
tives and spoils with the princes and people, who 
clothed the naked among them and gave them 
food and drink, anointed them, and placing the 
feeble upon asses, brought them to Jericho to 
their brethren, and then returned to Samaria. 

The Edomites again invaded the kingdom of 
Judah and carried away the prisoners. The Phil- 
istines also had taken a large number of cities 
and villages. Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, to 
whom Ahaz had offered rich gifts for help, came, 
but did not assist him. In this time of distress, 
the king of Judah offered sacrifices to the gods 
of Damascus, for, said he, " Because the gods of 
the Syrians help them, I will offer sacrifices to 
them, that they may help me," but says the sacred 
writer, "they were the ruin of him and all 
Israel." 

Though he died at the age of thirty-six, he in- 
flicted upon his nation great injuries by his 
heathen practices. He cut to pieces the sacred 
vessels of the house of God, closed the doors of 
the temple, built altars in every part of Jeru- 
salem and in the different cities of Judah, and 
made High Places for the worship of the gods. 
After his death he was not allowed to be buried 
in the sepulchre of the kings on account of his 
wickedness. 



CHAPTEK X. 

HEZEKIAH, MANASSEH, AMON. 

About two hundred and thirty years after the 
reign of Asa, king of Judah, another reformer 
appeared whose name was Hezekiah, meaning 
" Strength of the Lord." He was the son of 
Ahaz, king of Judah, and succeeded his father 
on the throne, at the age of twenty-five, and 
reigned twenty-nine years. The sacred historian 
gives a summary of his public life in the follow- 
ing words : " He did what was right in the sight 
of the Lord, according to all that David had 
done," referring to the Psalmist as a ruler. 
Hezekiah did not follow the wicked example of 
his father, but in a degenerate age, when his 
countrymen were generally inclined to adopt 
heathen ideas and practices in religion and 
morals, he adhered to the doctrines taught by 
Moses. 

The house of the Lord or temple had been neg- 
lected and needed repairs, therefore in the first 
month of his reign he began to improve it, and 
calling together the priests and Levites, said to 
them, " Listen to me. Sanctify yourselves and 

125 



126 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

also the house of the Lord, and remove whatever 
is offensive. Our fathers have trespassed and 
done evil in the sight of the Lord, and have for- 
saken His house. They closed the doors and put 
out the lamps and neglected to burn incense and 
offer burnt-offerings in the Holy Place, according 
to the law, therefore the Lord was angry with 
Judah and sent them trouble by allowing them 
to be the objects of contempt and astonishment. 
Our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our 
sons, daughters, and wives are in captivity. It is 
in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord 
God of Israel that His anger may turn away 
from us. My sons, be not negligent, for the 
Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to 
serve Him and offer sacrifices to Him." 

After this address, the Levites called together 
their brethern and they sanctified themselves ac- 
cording to the law, and went to the house of God 
and brought out everything considered unclean, 
and carried them to the Brook Kidron, to be de- 
stroyed. They began the work on the first day 
of the first month, and on the eighth day they 
came to the porch of the Temple. They com- 
pleted the work of sanctification on the sixteenth 
day, and then informed the king that they had 
cleansed the house of the Lord, the altar for 
burnt-offerings with all the vessels, the table of 
shewbread, and all that belonged to it. All the 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 127 

vessels Ahaz had profaned, they purified and 
placed before the altar. 

Hezekiah rose early and calling together the 
rulers of the city, went to the house of the Lord, 
when a sin-offering was made by the people ac- 
cording to the law. In the meantime the song 
used by David for such an occasion, was sung, 
accompanied by trumpets and other instruments, 
when all the assembly joined in the service, until 
the sacrifice was consumed, when the king and 
all present ' bowed and worshipped the Lord. 
After the songs of David and Asaph had been 
sung, Hezekiah said, "As ye have consecrated 
yourselves unto the Lord, bring sacrifices and 
offerings to His house." Many brought their 
offerings comprising in all, three thousand nine 
hundred and seventy animals of different kinds 
used for such purposes. This was an occasion of 
rejoicing both to the king and his subjects. 

Hezekiah wrote letters to the people of Judah, 
Ephraim, and Manasseh requesting them to come 
to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to observe 
the Passover, and a decree was issued and sent 
from Beer-sheba to Dan, that the festival ought 
to be celebrated at Jerusalem. Posts or heralds 
carried the king's letters throughout the kingdoms 
of Judah and Israel. In these writings he said, 
"Ye children of Israel, turn again to the Lord 
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and He 



128 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

will return to you, the remnant that escaped 
from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Be not 
stubborn as your fathers were, but yield to the 
Lord and enter His sanctuary. If you turn to 
the Lord, you will be forgiven, for He is gracious 
and merciful." 

The posts went from city to city throughout 
the country, but most of the people only laughed 
at and mocked them, except in the kingdom of 
Judah where they respected the king's command, 
and a large company assembled at Jerusalem to 
observe the feast of the Passover. They re- 
moved the altars devoted to false gods and cast 
them into the Brook Kidron and kept the festival 
according to the law. After these ceremonies 
ended, the people went through the cities of 
Judah and broke the idols in pieces, cut down the 
groves, utterly destroyed the High Places and 
altars, and then returned to their own homes. 
Since the days of Solomon, it is said, there had 
not been such a time of rejoicing in Jerusalem. 
Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and 
Levites and commanded the people to contribute* 
to their support, when they brought tithes of 
all their possessions, and when the king and 
princes saw their gifts, they praised the Lord and 
blessed the people. Rooms were fitted up in the 
house of the Lord for storing the offerings for 
which overseers were appointed. 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH, 129 

The use of groves for religious worship was a 
very ancient custom, and among heathen nations 
they became favorite places for idolatrous prac- 
tices, hence reformers took special pains to cut 
them down. The brazen serpent made by Moses, 
became an object of divine homage to which in- 
cense was burned. Hezekiah broke it in pieces 
and in contempt called it " Nehustan " which 
means little brazen serpent. 

Hezekiah was not permitted to close his reign 
without danger from other nations. Judah had 
been made tributary to Assyria, but the king re- 
fused to pay tribute, which was a dangerous posi- 
tion to assume. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, 
had laid siege to Samaria the capital of the king- 
dom of Israel, and after three years, captured 
the city, and in the sixth year of Hezekiah's 
reign the government of Israel was overthrown 
and the inhabitants were carried into captivity 
from which, as a nation, they never returned. 
When Sennacherib came to the Assyrian throne, 
he made a hostile invasion of the kingdom of 
Judah, in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's 
reign, and captured the fortified cities. The 
king sent to the Assyrian leader whose head- 
quarters were at Lachish, a messenger, saying, 
" I have offended ; return from me and whatsoever 
thou requirest, I will do." He gave Sennacherib 
three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents 



130 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

of gold, besides all the silver found in the house 
of the Lord and in the treasury of the palace. 
He removed the gold from the Temple and the 
pillars he had overlaid, and gave it to the king 
of Assyria. The value of a talent of silver has 
been estimated at nearly one hundred and four- 
teen pounds, and a talent of gold about seven 
thousand two hundred pounds, though the value 
of the talent varied in different periods. 

The king of Assyria sent Tartan, that is his 
commander-in-chief, Eabsaris, attended by Rab- 
shakeh, from Lachish, to Hezekiah, with a pow- 
erful army. On arriving at Jerusalem, they re- 
mained in the Fuller's Field, outside the walls 
of the city, and sent a message to the king of 
Judah, when Hezekiah requested Eliakim who 
was over the royal household, Shebner, the 
scribe, and Joah the recorder, to meet the mes- 
sengers of the king of Assyria. Rabshaker said 
to Eliakim and his associates, " Tell Hezekiah, 
thus saith the great king * of Assyria, ' What is 
this in which thou trustest ? ' Thou sayest, ' I 
have counsel and strength for war,' but these are 
vain words. On whom dost thou trust in thy 
rebellions? Thou trustest in the staff of a 
bruised reed, even Egypt. Pharaoh, king of 
Egypt, is only a bruised reed. But if ye say, 
1 We trust in the Lord our God,' did not Heze- 
kiah destroy his altars and High Places, saying, 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 131 

6 Ye shall worship before the altar in Jerusalem ? ' 
Give pledges to my lord, king of Assyria, and I 
will deliver to thee 2,000 horses, if thou art able 
to set riders on them. How then wilt thou turn 
away one captain of the least of my master's 
servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and 
horses ? Am I come against this place to de- 
stroy it ? The Lord said to me, ' Go against 
this land and destroy it.' " 

Eliakim said, " Speak to thy servants in the 
Syrian language, for we understand it, but do 
not address us in the Jew's language, in the ears 
of the people on the wall." Rabshaker made 
the insulting reply, " My master sent me to thy 
master to speak those words, and not to the con- 
temptible people on the walls." The Assyrians 
then proclaimed with a loud voice in the lan- 
guage of the Jews, " Hear the word of the great 
king of Assyria. Let not Hezekiah deceive you, 
for he is not able to deliver you out of my hands. 
Neither make your boast in the Lord, that He 
will deliver you, and this city will not be taken. 
Hearken not to Hezekiah. Make an agreement 
with me, saith the king, by a present, and come 
to me, and every man eat of his own vine and fig- 
tree and drink the waters of his cistern, until I 
come and take your land so abundant in corn, 
wine, bread, vineyards, olive oil and honey, that 
ye may live and not die. Hearken not to the 



132 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

king of Judah who says, ' The Lord will deliver 
us.' Hath any gods of the nations delivered 
this land out of the hand of the king of Assyria ? 
Where are the gods of Hamath and other places ? 
Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand ? " 

The people were silent and made no reply to 
the insolent speech of Rabshaker, for Hezekiah 
had given orders not to answer him. The king's 
messengers came to him with their clothes rent 
and told him what Rabshaker said, and when 
the king heard it, he rent his garment, put on 
sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. 
He sent Eliakim, Shebna, and certain other 
priests clothed in sackcloth to the prophet 
Isaiah, with the message, " This is a day of 
trouble, but it may be the Lord thy God will 
reprove the servant of the king of Assyria, there- 
fore pray for us." When the priests came to 
Isaiah, the prophet said, "Be not afraid, saith 
the Lord, I will send a blast upon him and he 
shall return to his own land and fall by the 
sword." 

Rabshaker returned to his master who had 
left his camp at Lachish, and was fighting 
against Libnah. He sent another message to 
the king of Judah saying, " Let not thy God in 
whom you trust, deceive you. Thou hast heard 
what the kings of Assyria have done. They 
have utterly destroyed other countries, and will 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 133 

you escape ? Did the gods deliver the nations 
whom my fathers destroyed ? " 

When Hezekiah received the letter at the hand 
of the courier and read it, he went to the house 
of the Lord, spread it before Him and offered the 
prayer, " O Lord God of Israel, who dwelleth be- 
tween the cherubim, Thou art God alone of all 
the kingdoms of the earth, and the Creator of 
the heavens and the earth. Bow down Thine ear 
and open Thine eyes. Hear the words of Sen- 
nacharib who has reproached the Living God. 
It is true the kings of Assyria have destroyed 
nations with their gods, the work of men's 
hands. O Lord our God, I beseech Thee save 
us out of his hands, that all the kings of the 
earth may know Thou art the Lord God, even 
Thou only." 

Isaiah sent the following message to Hezekiah, 
" Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, that which 
thou hast prayed for, I have heard." Then the 
prophet foretold the overthrow of Sennacharib 
and the safety of the king of Judah and his peo- 
ple. It came to pass that night, the angel of the 
Lord smote 185,000 men in the camp of the 
Assyrians and in the morning this vast army lay 
dead on the field. The king returned to Nineveh, 
and as he was engaged in the worship of his god 
Msroch in his temple, two of his sons killed him 
with the sword, and then fled to Armenia, and 



134 BIBLE CHARACTER^. 

Esarhadden, another of his sons succeeded him as 
king. 

Hezekiah had passed through many dangers, 
some of them were imminent, yet his dominions 
were not secure against his adversary, the As- 
syrians, and naturally he wished to live until 
peace and safety were secured for himself and his 
subjects, yet at this crisis he was prostrated by a 
mortal disease, it was supposed, and must leave 
his public affairs unsettled. ■ When lying upon 
his sick bed, Isaiah came to him with, a most 
solemn and startling message which was, "Set 
thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not 
live." This was sad intelligence for the royal 
invalid, who, as he lay upon his bed, wept bitterly 
and turned his face to the wall and offered the 
following prayer. " I beseech Thee, O Lord, re- 
member me. I have tried to walk before Thee 
in truth and a perfect heart, and do w r hat was 
right in Thy sight." Before Isaiah left the court 
of the palace, he received another communication 
from the Lord, to return to the king, the captain 
of My people and say to him, " I have heard thy 
prayer and seen thy tears. Behold, I will heal 
thee, and on the third day thou shalt go to the 
house of the Lord, and I will add fifteen years 
to thy life and will deliver thee and this city 
from, the king of Assyria for My own and My 
servant David's sake." 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 135 

A remedy was to be applied, but Hezekiah 
doubted its efficiency and required a sign that the 
prophet's words would come to pass. Isaiah gave 
him the choice of two signs, namely, that the 
shadow on the dial of Ahaz would go forwards 
or backwards ten degrees. Which should it be ? 
Hezekiah replied that it was a common thing for 
the shadow to go down ten degrees, but for it to 
return back ten degrees would be a miracle, 
therefore he chose the latter, and it was granted. 

"When Berodak-Baladden, king of Babylon, 
heard of the illness of Hezekiah, he sent letters 
expressing sympathy, perhaps, and a present to 
him, and the messengers were entertained by the 
king who showed them all his treasures, compris- 
ing silver, gold, spices, precious ointment and 
everything in his armory. There was nothing in 
his palace that he did not let them see, and noth- 
ing valuable in his dominions about which he did 
not inform them. This unusual display of wealth 
was prompted, doubtless, by pride and vanity, 
since the prophet reproved him for it. He in- 
quired, "what the messengers said and whence 
they come." The reply was, "from a distant 
country, even Babylon." " And what have they 
seen in thy house ? " " Everything, there is 
nothing among my treasures I have not shown 
them." "Hear the word of the Lord," said 
Isaiah. " The days will come when all that is in 



136 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

thy house, and all thy father's stores, shall be 
carried to Babylon, and nothing will be left, and 
thy sons shall be taken captives and appointed 
servants in the palace of the king of Babylon." 
Hezekiah replied, " Good is the word of the 
Lord if peace and truth be in my day.". 

After the king recovered from his illness, he 
devoted the fifteen years added to his life, in ef- 
fecting reforms, and making improvements in his 
dominions to protect them against the invasions 
of foreign nations. After consulting his princes 
and warriors, he repaired the old wall of Jeru- 
salem, which had been broken down, raised it 
higher, and built another wall about the first, 
and stopped the fountains of water outside the 
city so that an enemy could not be supplied with 
water. He repaired Millo, a place where the 
people assembled on public occasions, and had a 
large number of darts and shields made for the 
soldiers over whom he appointed captains. 

Having accomplished these defensive opera- 
tions, he assembled the citizens at the gate of the 
city and addressed them saying, " Be strong and 
courageous. Be not afraid of the king of Assyria 
nor his large army, for with us is the Lord our 
God to help and fight our battles ; " and the people 
were much encouraged by his address. Hezekiah 
was highly honored for the reforms and improve- 
ments he accomplished in the kingdom of Judah, 




St John and St. Peter. 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 137 

though laboring under great discouragements 
and almost insurmountable difficulties, and it is a 
remarkable instance of his firm religious prin- 
ciples, that he was the son of a* wicked king. 
The sacred writers represent death as a sleep, an 
intimation that they believed in a future resur- 
rection from the grave. It is said that he slept 
with his fathers and was buried in the chief 
sepulchre of the sons of David, while all his sub- 
jects paid him great honor. 

Manasseh, son and successor of Hezekiah, be- 
gan his reign at the age of twelve, and continued 
his government, fifty-five years, the longest 
period of any of the kings of Judah. Unlike his 
father, he was an idolater in the early period of 
his reign, and restored the worship of false gods, 
rebuilt the High Places his father had broken 
down, erected altars to Baal and worshipped the 
heavenly bodies. He erected altars in the house 
of the Lord for offerings to heathen divinities, 
and presented his children in the valley of Hin- 
nom as burnt-sacrifices. He used enchantments 
and witchcraft, dealt with familiar spirits and 
wizards, placed a carved image in the house of 
the Lord and corrupted his subjects so they were 
worse than heathen nations. It is said, "He 
shed innocent blood until he filled Jerusalem 
from one end to another." 

The Lord admonished Manasseh and his sub- 



138 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

jects by the prophets, but they would not 
hearken, therefore, He sent the Assyrians to 
chastise them, when the prophet delivered in 
substance the following message: "Because 
Manasseh has surpassed the Ammonites in wicked- 
ness and has caused Judah to sin, therefore, thus 
saith the Lord, I will bring evil upon Jerusalem 
and Judah that whoever heareth it, his ears shall 
tingle, I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipeth a 
dish, turning it upside down, and I will forsake 
the remnant of my inheritance and deliver them 
into the hands of their enemies and they shall 
become their prey and spoil." 

When the kingdom of Judah was invaded by 
the Assyrians, Manasseh was taken, bound with 
fetters, and carried off a prisoner. This calamity 
led him to repent of his wickedness, and when 
he was released from captivity, he returned to 
Jerusalem and began to make improvements at 
the capital. He constructed a stronger wall 
around the city, and placed officers in all the 
fortified places of Judah. He removed the false 
gods and their altars, he had erected and re- 
paired the altar of the Lord, offered sacrifices 
and commanded the people of Judah to serve 
the Lord God of Israel. However, they con- 
tinued to offer sacrifices in High Places, though 
only to the Lord. 

The history of Manasseh, it has been said, is 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 139 

an impressive illustration of Divine mercy and 
forbearance. After his death, he was buried in 
the garden of his own house. 

The successor of Manasseh to the throne of 
Judah, was Amon, his son, who was twenty-two 
when he began to reign, but he continued in 
power only two years. He followed the example 
of his father before Manasseh's reformation, and 
was regarded as one of the wicked kings. His 
servants formed a conspiracy and slew him in 
his palace, and his son Josiah was elected king, 
but the people put to death the conspirators. 

It frequently occurred that a righteous and 
successful sovereign, was the son and, successor 
of a wicked and inefficient one, and vice versa, a 
fact which suggests the idea that the moral and 
intellectual faculties are not hereditary. Per- 
haps with the Hebrew kings, something was due 
to the training of the royal princes. They were, 
doubtless, kept secluded from public affairs and 
trained by teachers of widely different moral and 
intellectual qualifications, therefore many of the 
princes were utterly unprepared by any previous 
training, to assume the reins of government when 
called to the responsible office. 



CHAPTEE XL 

JGSIAH, JEH0AHAZ, JEHOIAKIM, JEHOIACHIN OK 
JECONIAH, ZEDEKIAH. 

Josiah, son of Anion, succeeded his father, on 
the throne of Judah, at the age of eight years, 
and reigned thirty-one years. He early mani- 
fested a respect for the doctrines of the eminent 
lawgiver of his nation, in opposition to the prac- 
tices of many of his predecessors. He was 
chosen king at a very important and critical pe- 
riod in his nation's history, B. c. 640. The king- 
dom of Israel had been overthrown by the Assy- 
rians, B. c. 727, and Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, had extended his conquests and brought 
under his authority, a large part of the East. It 
is not known who acted as regent during the 
early years of the boy king of Judah, but it may 
have been Jedidah his mother w^ho probably 
trained her son in the religion of the patriarchs. 

When Josiah was nearly sixteen years of age, 
he began to arrange his plans for reforms in his 
dominions, and to adopt measures for the restora- 
tion of the worship of Jehovah, and at the age 
of twenty, he vigorously pursued the accomplish- 
140 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 141 

ment of his purpose. His first effort was to 
abolish idolatry in Jerusalem, and then in other 
parts of his kingdom, by destroying the idols 
and altars dedicated to the worship of heathen 
gods. At the age of twenty-six, the restoration 
of the worship of the Supreme Divinity and the 
regular services of the temple, were nearly ac- 
complished, and while carrying forward the 
work, the Book of the Law which had been con- 
cealed in the house of God, was discovered. 
This copy of the Sacred Writings may have been 
concealed by some priest to save it from destruc- 
tion during the reign of an idolatrous king. 

"When informed of the contents of the Book, 
Josiah determined to follow its directions and 
observe the festivals commanded by Moses, which 
had been neglected. He provided means for the 
repairs of the house of God, and the silver con- 
tributed for this purpose was counted by Hilkiah 
the high priest, and delivered to the overseers 
of the work, who gave it to the carpenters, ma- 
sons, and other workmen, to purchase timber 
and hewn stone for the repair of the temple, 
though " no account of the amount delivered was 
kept, because they dealt faithfully," it is said. 

A more definite account of the discovery is as 
follows : While the work of repairs was going 
forward, the high priest said to Shaphan, the 
scribe, " I have found the Book of the Law in 



142 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

the house of the Lord." The scribe took it to 
the king and read it, and when Josiah heard 
what was written, he rent his clothes as a sign 
of grief and called the high priest with others 
to inquire of the Lord for himself and his subjects 
concerning the words of the Book, for said he, 
" The wrath of the Lord is against us, because 
our fathers have not done all that is written 
therein." 

Hilkiah and his associates went to Huldah, the 
prophetess, who dwelt in the college at Jerusa- 
lem, and consulted with her. She said the Lord 
would bring evil upon Jerusalem and the people 
because they have forsaken Him for other gods, 
but to the king of Judah say, " Because thy heart 
was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before 
Me, I will gather thee to thy fathers in peace 
and thou shalt not see the evil I will bring upon 
this place." 

The king, after hearing this message, sum- 
moned all the elders, priests, prophets, the inhab- 
itants of Jerusalem, and the people of other 
places, both old and young, and read to them the 
Book of the Covenant found in the house of the 
Lord. After this instructive exercise, the king 
stood by one of the pillars of the Temple, and 
made a solemn covenant before the Lord to keep 
His commandments with all the heart and soul, 
and the people stood b}^ the covenant. Josiah 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 143 

I 

commanded the priests and the porters to bring 
out of the temple all the vessels for Baal, the em- 
blems of the grove and the heavenly bodies and 
burn them without the gates of Jerusalem in the 
field of Kedron, and carry the ashes to Bethel. 
He removed from office all the priests who had 
offered incense to I>aal, the sun, moon, and 
planets, and brought the grove as a sacred em- 
blem from the house of the Lord, burned it and 
cast the ashes upon the graves of the dead. He 
overthrew the houses of the Sodomites where the 
women made hangings for the grove, and defiled 
the High Places where the priests had burned in- 
cense to false gods, and also degraded Tophet in 
the valley of- Hinnom, where parents offered 
their children a burnt-sacrifice to the god Moloch. 
He removed the temples consecrated to the sun, 
destroyed the altars and many other relics of 
idolatry. The altar at Bethel, erected by Jero- 
boam for the worship of the golden calves, was 
destroyed, and when Josiah saw the sepulchres 
in the mount, he removed the bones of the dead 
and burned them, as had been predicted by one 
of the prophets. " What is that I see ? " inquired 
the king. "It is the sepulchre of the man of 
God who came from Judah and proclaimed what 
thou hast done against the altar at Bethel," was 
the answer. " Let it remain," said Josiah ; there- 
fore they did not molest his remains. 



144 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

The reforms of Josiah were more thorough 
than those of any of his predecessors, but his zeal 
led him to do some things that seemed cruel ; for 
instance, he slew all the priests in Samaria who 
had offered sacrifices in " High Places," but it may 
have been necessary to protect the people of 
Judah against idolatry. Josiah had superin- 
tended his reforms in person, and had visited dif- 
ferent parts of his kingdom, but after he had 
accomplished his work, he returned to Jerusalem. 

Frequent wars occurred between the Egyptians 
and the Assyrians, before the conquest of the 
latter power, and in one instance the conflict 
lasted more than twenty years, when Egypt was 
invaded and her cities laid waste, but she finally 
regained her liberty, when Assyria was engaged 
in a war with Babylon and Elam. Pharaoh 
Necho II., king of Egypt, with a powerful army 
began an expedition in quest of adventure, B. c. 
608, and marched through Palestine, the common 
highway for armies in their warlike excursions 
between the Mle and the great rivers of Asia. 
He encountered no opposition until he reached 
the plain of Esdraelon, one of the famous battle- 
fields of the world, when he was unexpectedly 
opposed by the forces of Josiah. 

Necho II. sent ambassadors to him with the 
message, "What have I to do with thee, king of 
Judah ? I am not against thee, but the people 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 145 

with whom I am at war, according to the com- 
mand of God. Forbear meddling with Him, that 
He may not destroy thee." Josiah did not re- 
gard the admonition of the king of Egypt ; but 
fought against him in the second battle of Me- 
giddo on the plain of Esdraelon, and was mor- 
tally wounded by the archers, when he told his 
servants to remove him from the battlefield. 
They took him from his chariot, and placing him 
in another, brought him to Jerusalem, where, 
*after his death, he was buried in the sepulchre 
of his fathers, and all his subjects throughout 
Judea mourned for him. Songs and elegies were 
composed in reference to his death, which were 
used for a long time after. 

Why Josiah should attack the army of the 
Egyptians that had given him no cause for such 
an act, is not apparent, but it was a fatal mistake 
for himself and a serious one for his subjects, 
since his kingdom was made tributary to the 
conquerors. Josiah died but a short period be- 
fore the conquest of the kingdom of Judah by 
the Babylonians and the captivity of the people 
for seventy years, beginning B. c. 588 or 586, 
about one hundred and thirty-six years after that 
of the ten tribes of Israel, their relatives and 
neighbors, by the Ass} r rians. Josiah was suc- 
ceeded at the early age of thirty-nine years by 
his son Jehoahaz. 



146 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Jehoahaz, son and successor of Josiah, reigned 
only three months, and was then twenty-three 
years d¥ age. He was inclined to follow the ex- 
ample of the unrighteous kings who preceded 
him. Necho, king of Egypt, invaded the king- 
dom of Judah, laid it under tribute, took Jehoa- 
haz a prisoner, appointed Eliakim his brother 
king and changed his name, to Jehoiakim. He 
was twenty-five when he began to reign, and 
continued his rule eleven years, but he did not 
follow the example of his father, Josiah. Dur- 
ing his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, 
invaded the kingdom of Judah, took the king 
prisoner, bound him with fetters and carried him 
to Babylon, together with the sacred vessels of 
the house of the Lord, which he placed in his 
temple at his capital. 

When Nebuchadnezzar first invaded Judah, 
the king became tributary, but after three years 
Jehoiakim rebelled. This involved him in trou- 
ble, of course, and brought upon himself and na- 
tion great dangers. Besides the perils from the 
Chaldeans, he was threatened by the Syrians, 
Moabites, and Ammonites. These disasters were 
sent to the people of Judah, it is said as a pun- 
ishment for the sins of Manasseh. After the 
death of Jehoiakim, he was succeeded by his son 
Jehoiachin or Jeconiah at the age of eighteen, 
who reigned only three months and ten days. 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 147 

During his brief reign, Nebuchadnezzar came 
again to Jerusalem, besieged it, and took Jehoia- 
chin, his mother and servants, princes and of- 
ficers, prisoners, with all the treasures of the 
house of the Lord, and the king's house, cut in 
pieces all the vessels of gold Solomon had placed 
in the Temple and carried them to Babylon, to- 
gether with the craftsmen and smiths, and 10,000 
captives, leaving none but the poorer classes. The 
king of Babylon appointed Mattaniah king of the 
remnant left in Judea, and changed his name to 
Zedekiah who was then twenty-one years of age. 
He occupied the throne eleven years, but he very 
imprudently rebelled against the king of Baby- 
lon, which brought him to Jerusalem to which 
he laid siege, and in the eleventh year of Zede- 
kiah's reign it was captured. When the king of 
Juclah was aware of his peril, he fled from the 
city by night, but the Chaldeans pursued and 
overtook him on the plain of Jericho, all his sol- 
diers or guard having deserted him. The Baby- 
lonians brought him to Kiblah, the headquarters 
of the king of Babylon, when a fearful judgment 
was passed upon him. He was compelled to 
witness the death of his sons by the hand of his 
captors, after which they put out his eyes, bound 
him with fetters of brass, and carried him a pris- 
oner to Babylon. The captain of Nebuchad- 
nezzar's guard burned the house of the Lord at 



148 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Jerusalem, and the dwellings of the leading men, 
threw down the walls of Jerusalem, broke in 
pieces the pillars of brass and the brazen sea and 
carried off the pieces together with the sacred 
vessels, and everything which could be removed. 
He then took the priests, the porter of the house 
of the Lord, five of the king's guards, the princi- 
pal scribe who marshalled the people, and sixty 
other persons and conducted them to the king of 
Babylon at Eiblah, where they were all slain, and 
the king and people of Judah that survived, were 
made captives. 

There was a change in the government of 
Babylon during the thirtieth year of the captiv- 
ity when the new sovereign, Evil-merodach, re- 
leased Jehoiachin from prison, spoke kindly to 
him, changed his prison garments, set him on a 
throne above other captive princes, and gave 
him a daily allowance of food for the remainder 
of his days. — The Jews remained in captivity 
seventy years, and at the close of this period 
when the Persians had overthrown the Babylon- 
ian empire, they were allowed to return to their 
native land, as many of them as chose to do so, 
and rebuild Jerusalem their capital city, which 
remained in their possession until the Roman 
conquest in the early period of the present era, 

The period occupied by the kingdom of Judah, 
after the secession, was four hundred and four 



THE KINGS OF JUDAH. 



149 



and one-half years, during which there were 
twenty sovereigns including Athaliah the queen 
and an interregnum of eleven years. — The names 
of several kings of Judah and those of the kings 
of Israel were the same, a circumstance liable to 
cause some perplexity, but the list of kings for 
each nation, and the length of their reigns will 
relieve the difficulty. 

The Sovereigns of Judah. 



1. 


Rehoboam, 


- 


Reigned 17 years. 


2. 


Abijah or Abijam, 


- 


" 3 " 


3. 


Asa, 


- 


a 41 a 


4. 


Jehoshaphat, 


- 


" 25 " 


5. 


Joram or Jehoram, 


- 


If g u 


6. 


Ahaziah or Azariah, 


- 


" 1 " 


7. 


Athaliah, Queen, 


- 


it 6 tt 


8. 


Joash or Jehoash, 


- 


« 40 " 


9. 


Amaziah, 


- 


" 29 " 




IXTEEEEGNUM, 


- 


11 " 


10. 


Uzziah or Azariah, 


- 


11 52 " 


11. 


Jotham, 


- 


" 16 u 


12. 


Ahaz, 


- 


" 16 " 


13. 


Hezekiah, « - 


- 


11 29 " 


14. 


Manasseh, 


- 


" 55 " 


15. 


Anion, 


- 


" 2 " 


16. 


Josiah, 


- 


ii 31 ii 


17. 


Jehoahaz, 


- 


11 3 months. 


18. 


Jehoiakim, 


- 


" 11 years. 


19. 


Jehoiachin or Jeconiah, 


" 3 mo. and 10 dys 


20. 


Zedekiah, 

The Captivity. 


- 


'* 11 years. 



150 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

The Prophets of Judah after the Secession. 

1. Shernaiah, during the reign of Rehoboam and Abijah. 

2. Oded, during the reign of Asa. 

3. Azariah, during the reign of Asa. 

4. Hanani, during the reign of Asa. 

5. Jehu, son of Hanani, during the reign of Asa. 

6. Eliezer, during the reign of Jehoshaphat. 

7. Jahaziel, during the reign of Joram or Jehoram. 

8. Zechariah I., during the reign of Amaziah. 

9. Zechariah II., during the reign of Uzziah or Azariah. 

10. Isaiah, during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Heze- 

kiah. 

11. Micah, during the reign of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah. 

12. Nahum, during tne reign of Hezekiah (supposed) . 

13. Joel, during the reign of Manasseh, Anion (supposed). 

14. Jeremiah, during the reign of Josiah. 

15. Habakkuk, during the reign of Jehoahaz (supposed). 

16. Zephaniah, during the reign of Jehoiakim. 

17. Ezekiel, during the captivity of Jehoiakim. 

18. Daniel, during the reign of Zedekiah. 

19. Obadiah, during the reign of Zedekiah (supposed). 

20. Haggai, after the captivity. 

21. Zechariah III., after the captivity. 

22. Nehemiah, after the captivity. 






The Kings of Israel. 



CHAPTER XII. 



JEROBOAM I., NADAB, BAASHA, ELAH, ZIMRI, 
OMRI. 

The history of the remarkable man who 
founded the Kingdom of Israel and became its 
first sovereign, after the secession, is interesting, 
eventful and romantic, but sad, since he has the 
reputation of being the oi*e who "made Israel 
sin," by instituting the worship of the " golden 
calves," at Dan and Bethel. 

Jeroboam, son of Nebat, was a native of Zereda, 
a place belonging to the tribe of Ephraim. He 
was bold and shrewd, enterprising, and un- 
scrupulous, and on account of his qualities, he 
won the attention of King Solomon, who con- 
sidered the young man a suitable person to levy 
certain taxes on the tribes of Ephraim and 
Manasseh, therefore he was appointed ruler over 
these descendants of Joseph. While on his way 
from Jerusalem to attend to his duties, dressed 

151 



152 BIBLE CHABACTEBS. 

in a new garment or mantle, he was met by the 
prophet Ahijah, and when the two men were 
alone in the field, the man of God caught hold of 
the mantle of Jeroboam and rent it into twelve 
pieces, then said to him, " Take ten pieces, for 
thus saith the Lord God of Israel, ' I will rend the 
kingdom from Solomon and give ten tribes to 
thee, because he has forsaken me and has wor- 
shipped the gods of the Zidonians, Moabites, and 
Ammonites, and has not kept my laws, as David 
kept them. However, I will not take the whole 
kingdom out of his hands, but will make him 
prince during his life, for David's sake. I will 
give thee ten tribes and thou shalt reign king over 
Israel. If thou wilt keep my commandments, I 
will be with thee and establish thee in thy king- 
dom.' " 

When Solomon was informed of the message of 
Ahijah, he attempted to take the life of Jero- 
boam, but being aware of his danger, he escaped 
to Egypt, where he remained until the death of 
his enemy, and when he heard that Rehoboam 
had succeeded his father in the government, 
Jeroboam returned to Palestine, and with a num- 
ber of the leading men he appeared at court and 
offered a petition for the relief of some of their 
burdens, but the king, very injudiciously, not 
only refused to lessen their burdens, but declared 
that he would increase them. This caused ten 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 153 

tribes to revolt and elect Jeroboam for their 
king, but he soon forgot or set aside the obliga- 
tion he owed the Lord who gave him the king- 
dom, and thought only of advancing his own in- 
terests. 

It was important in order to secure their alle- 
giance, to prevent his subjects from going to 
Jerusalem to offer sacrifices and observe the an- 
nual festivals, for were they allowed to do so, 
they would be inclined, perhaps, to return to the 
house of David. To prevent this, the shrewd 
politician caused two golden calves to be made 
and placed, one in Dan and the other in Bethel, 
the extreme limits of his dominions, and issued a 
proclamation to be circulated throughout his 
kingdom, that none of his subjects should go to 
Jerusalem to worship, and directing their atten- 
tion to the calves he said, " Behold thy gods, 
Israel, which brought thee out of Egypt." 

Jeroboam erected temples and ordained priests 
from the lowest classes, not of the tribe of Levi, 
according to the law, and appointed priests for 
the High Places, where idols were worshipped. 
He instituted festivals similar to those required 
by the Mosaic law, and offered sacrifices upon 
altars dedicated to his gods. As Jeroboam stood 
by the altar at Bethel to burn incense, on a cer- 
tain occasion, a man of God who came from 
Judah exclaimed, " O altar ! altar ! thus saith the 



154 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Lord, ' Behold a child shall be born to the house 
of David, Josiah by name, who shall offer priests 
and burn men's bones upon the altar, and as a 
sign that he'" — the man of God — "'was pro- 
claiming the will of the Lord, the altar shall be 
rent and the ashes shall be scattered.' " 

When Jeroboam heard the words of the 
prophet, he attempted to seize him, but as he ex- 
tended his hand, it became paralyzed and the 
altar was rent as the man of God had predicted. 
Jeroboam said, " Entreat the Lord thy God that 
my hand may be restored." The prophet offered 
a prayer as requested, when his hand was re- 
stored to its use. "Come home with me and 
dine, and I will give thee a reward," said Jero- 
boam. The prophet replied, " If thou wilt give 
me half of thy house, I will not go with thee, 
neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this 
place, for so it was charged me by the word of 
the Lord ;" therefore he departed by another 
road and returned not by Bethel. 

There lived in this town an aged prophet, and 
his sons came and told him what the man of God 
had done, and the words he spake to Jeroboam, 
when their father inquired which way he went, 
and ordered them to saddle the ass, when he rode 
to seek the man of God, and found him sitting 
under an oak tree. He inquired, " Art thou the 
man of God who came from Judah ? " He said, 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 155 

"I am." " Come home with me and eat bread." 
" I cannot return," he replied, " for I was told by 
the word of the Lord not to eat or drink here, 
nor return by the way I came." 

The aged man said, " I am a prophet, and an 
angel told me to bring the messenger from Judah 
back to my house that he may eat and drink." 
This old prophet uttered a falsehood, and the 
man being deceived, returned with him. As 
they sat at the table, the host said to his guest, 
" As thou hast disobeyed the Lord, thy body 
shall not be buried in the sepulchre of thy 
fathers." After they had finished their meal, 
the old prophet saddled the ass of his visitor, 
when he departed, but as he was on his way, a 
lion met and killed him, but left his body with 
that of the ass in the road, and stood by them. 
Those passing by and seeing the dead man went 
to the city and related the incident, when the 
aged prophet, who was the cause of the disaster, 
said, " It was the man who was disobedient to 
the word of the Lord, therefore he was slain by 
the lion." He said to his sons, " Saddle for me 
the ass," when he went and found the remains of 
the man from Judah and the lion standing by 
them. He took up the dead man, placed him 
upon an ass, and bringing him to the city, laid 
him in his own tomb and mourned over him, 
saying, "Alas, my brother." He then told his 



156 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

sons to bury him after his death, beside his 
remains. " The prophecy concerning the altar at 
Bethel and the High Places in the cities of 
Samaria, shall certainly come to pass." 

Abijah, Jeroboam's son, was sick, and the 
father told his wife to disguise herself that it 
might not be known who she was, and go to 
JShiloh and seek for Ahijah the prophet, who had 
informed him that he should be king of Israel, 
and inquire about the result of the illness of his 
€hild. " Take ten loaves and cracknels (or biscuit), 
and a cruse of honey, and he will tell thee what 
will happen to our son." 

Jeroboam's wife followed his directions and 
came to the house of Ahijah, at Shiloh. On 
account of his advanced age, the prophet had 
lost his sight, but the Lord said to him, " The 
wife of Jeroboam cometh to thee about her son 
who is sick, but she will pretend to be another 
woman." 

When Ahijah heard her footsteps, he said, 
" Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam. Why do you 
pretend to be another person ? I have for thee 
heavy tidings. Go tell Jeroboam thus saith the 
Lord God of Israel, ' Though I have exalted thee 
a prince over my people Israel, and have rent the 
kingdom from the house of David, and have 
given it to thee, yet thou hast not been as my 
servant David who kept my commandments with 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 157 

all his heart, but thou hast done evil above all 
that were before thee, and hast gone after other 
gods, therefore, I will utterly destroy the house 
of Jeroboam. Go to thy home, and when you 
enter the city, the child will die, and he only 
shall come in peace to the grave of his family. 
The Lord shall smite Israel and scatter them 
beyond the Kiver (Euphrates) because of the sins 
of Jeroboam, who led Israel astray.'" Jero- 
boam's wife returned to Tirzah, where her hus- 
band awaited her, and as soon as she came to the 
door of his house, the child died. 

Jeroboam did not reform his life, and after a 
reign of twenty-two years, he died and was suc- 
ceeded by his son Nadab, as king of Israel. 

There is no one of the kings of Israel, perhaps, 
who is so responsible for the degeneracy of his 
nation as Jeroboam. He established idolatry 
and heathen practices in his kingdom, not from 
conscientious motives, but from selfishness. He 
is frequently charged with the fearful crime of 
causing Israel to sin, referring to their religious 
practices. 

The second king of Israel was JSTaclab, son of 
Jeroboam, whose reign continued only two years, 
but he followed the heathen practices of his 
father. Few public events during his reign are 
recorded, and his death was tragical. There was 
a war between the Israelites and the Philistines, 



158 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

their near neighbors, and Nadab laid siege to 
Gribbethon, one of their cities. While besieging 
this city, the king of Israel was assassinated by 
Baasha, son of Ahijah, of the tribe of Issacher. 

After the murder of Nadab, Baasha seized the 
government of Israel and smote all the family of 
Jeroboam, not sparing a single member, accord- 
ing to the word of the prophet Ahijah the 
Shilonite. 

During Baasha's reign, which continued twenty- 
four years, there was a war between him and Asa, 
king of Judah. To prevent any of his subjects 
from deserting to the king of Judah, the king of 
Israel built Ramah as a fortified town, and prob- 
ably placed a garrison there to hold it. Ramah 
or Rama was the name of several cities in Pales- 
tine. There was one about thirty miles north- 
west of Jerusalem, on the road to Joppa, and 
was probably the one mentioned in this narrative. 

Baasha formed an alliance with Ben-hadad, 
king of Syria, and made Tirzah, a city of Eph- 
raim, his capital and the royal seat of the kings 
of Israel, from the time of Jeroboam to that of 
Omri, who built Samaria for the capital of the 
kingdom of Israel. 

As Baasha was disposed to follow the example 
of Jeroboam, Jehu, the son of Hanani, delivered 
a prophecy against him, as follows : " Though I 
exalted thee from the dust, and made thee prince 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL, 159 

over my people Israel, yet thou lias walked in 
the way °f Jeroboam, therefore I will remove 
thee and thy posterity, and make thy house like 
that of Jeroboam, and him that dieth of the 
family of Baasha in the city, shall the dogs eat, 
and him that dieth in the fields, shall the fowls 
of the air eat." 

A brief summary of the reign of this king is as 
follows : He was the commander of the armies of 
King Nadab, whom he treacherously murdered 
at the siege of Gibbethon, and assumed the gov- 
ernment of Israel, which he ruled twenty-four 
years, and during that time, formed a league with 
the king of Syria, and carried on a war with the 
king of Judah, and put to death all the family of 
Jeroboam. He, however, followed the wicked ex- 
ample of his predecessors, but unlike many of 
them, was saved from a violent death. 

Elah, son of Baasha, succeeded, his father and 
reigned two years with his capital at Tirzah. As 
he was indulging in a drunken revel, in the 
house of Arza, his steward, Zimri, a captain of 
his chariots, entered the banquet hall, slew the 
king and seized the government. As soon as he 
had accomplished his purpose, he destroyed all the 
family of Baasha as the prophet Jehu had pre- 
dicted. He reigned only seven days, the shortest 
reign of any of the kings of Israel. 

When the people of Israel at the siege of Gib- 



160 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

bethon heard that Zimri had slain Elah, they 
elected Omri captain of the army, in the camp, 
when he, with his followers, left Gibbethon and 
' laid siege to Tirzah. As soon as Zimri saw that 
the city was taken, he went into the royal palace 
and set fire to it, burning the house and himself 
with it. Thus ended the life of the traitor and 
murderer, after exercising royal authority only 
seven days. 

There was a division, however, among the 
tribes of Israel in regard to the succession, a 
part choosing Tibni, son of Ginath, for king, and 
a. part preferred Omri. The controversy might 
have led to a civil war, had not Tibni died. His 
decease left the kingdom to Omri, who has the 
reputation of doing worse than any of his prede- 
cessors. He reigned twelve years and during 
that time he made some important changes. 
Tirzah was his capital for the first six years of his 
reign, but at the end of that period, he purchased 
the hill of Samaria of Shemer for two talents of 
silver, and built *a city on the hill which he 
named Samaria after the original owner, and 
made it his capital, when it became the metropolis 
of the Israelites until their captivity and disper 
sion. After his death, Omri was buried in 
Samaria, and was succeeded by Ahab, his son. 







Si 





1 




CHAPTEK XIII. 

AHAB. 

One of the most prominent sovereigns of 
Israel, was Ahab, son of Omri, who is represented 
as exceeding in wickedness all those who reigned 
before him. His reign of twenty-two years was 
memorable for some events connected with the 
history of the prophet Elijah. Some of the 
charges against Ahab as recorded by the sacred 
writers are, that he married Jezebel, a shrewd 
but wicked heathen princess, a daughter of the 
king of the Zidonians. She exercised a power- 
ful influence over the king of Israel who led him 
to worship Baal, to whom he built a temple, 
erected an altar, and planted a grove for the 
worship of false gods. 

During the reign of Ahab, three different wars 
occurred between the Syrians and the Israelites. 
Ben-hadad, king of Syria, on a certain occasion, 
with a powerful army of cavalry and chariots, 
accompanied by thirty-two confederate kings 
with their forces, invaded the kingdom of Israel, 
and besieged Samaria. He first sent a threaten- 
ing and insulting message to Ahab with a menace 

161 



162 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

of great destruction unless he submitted to his 
terms, when the king of Israel uttered the 
proverb often quoted, " Let not him that girdeth 
on his harness, boast himself, as he that putteth 
it off." 

When Ben-hadad heard this message, he said 
to his confederates, " Set yourselves in array 
against the city," meaning Sanjaria. His pur- 
pose was to take it by storm. 

At this aspect of affairs, the king of Israel was 
doubtful about the result of the siege, when a 
prophet came to him with the encouraging mes- 
sage that the Israelites would conquer, and that 
the Lord was their Deliverer. Ahab inquired by 
whom the victory would be won. The answer 
was, " Ify the princes of the provinces." " And 
who shall command the troops ? " The reply 
was, " Thou." The king mustered the princes 
and found they numbered 230, while the soldiers, 
capable of bearing arms, included 7,000, a very 
small force to meet so formidable a host as the 
Syrians. 

When Ben-hadad was indulging in a drunken 
feast with the thirty-two confederate kings, in 
their tents or pavilions, he was told the Israelites 
were coming. He said, " Whether they come for 
peace or war, take them alive." The soldiers of 
Ahab made an attack upon the Syrians, killing 
great numbers, while the remainder fled, pursued 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 163 

by the conquerors, and the king escaped on horse- 
back accompanied by his cavalry. Ben-hadad, 
though defeated, did not relinquish his purpose of 
subduing the Israelites, therefore a prophet came 
to Ahab saying, " Strengthen thyself and see 
what thou doest, for the king of Syria will make 
another attack." The subjects of the Syrian 
monarch said to him, " The gods of the Israelites 
are gods of the hills, therefore are stronger than 
we are. Let us fight them in the plain, and surely 
we shall win the victory. Remove the kings 
from the army and place captains in their posi- 
tions. Go immediately and raise an army like 
the one lost, horse for horse, and chariot for 
chariot, then we shall conquer." The king ap- 
proved their plan and at the beginning of the 
year, marched to Aphek to fight the Israelites. 
The latter compared to the enemy were like 
"two little flocks of kids," as it is expressed, 
while the Syrians, on adcount of their numbers, 
occupied the entire region in the vicinity of 
Aphek. 

A prophet came to the king of Israel, with the 
message " Thus saith the Lord, 'Because the Syr- 
ians said, u The Lord is God of the hills and not of 
the valleys, I will deliver this great multitude 
into thy hands." ' " The contending forces en- 
camped opposite each other several days, both, 
apparently, reluctant to begin the conflict, but 



164 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

on the seventh day the battle began, when the 
Syrians were defeated, losing 100,000 infantry 
and the remainder fled to Aphek, when the walls 
of the city fell upon the fighters killing 27,000, 
making the entire loss 127,000. Ben-hadad fled 
and concealed himself in a chamber when his 
scouts, or perhaps, bodyguard said to him, " The 
kings of Israel are merciful. Let us put on sack- 
cloth and with ropes on our heads, go to Ahab, 
perhaps he will save our lives.' 5 This advice was 
followed. 

"When the king of Israel heard that Ben-hadad 
was alive, he said, " He is my brother ; conduct 
him to me," when Ahab invited him to a seat in 
his chariot. The captive said to his conqueror, 
" The cities my father took from thy father, I 
will restore, and thou shalt occupy streets in 
Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Ahab 
released his prisoner and made a covenant with 
him and sent him to his 'own country. 

A prophet in disguise waited for Ahab, and as 
he passed by said to the king, ""When thy 
servant was in the army, one was brought to 
him as a prisoner, and I was told to keep him 
safe for if he is missing, thy life shall be given 
for his, or thou shalt pay a talent of silver " (per- 
haps between $1,000 and $2,000). " When thy 
servant was busy, here and there, the prisoner 
escaped." The king said, " So shall thy judg- 



TEE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 165 

ment be. Thou hast decided it." "When the 
messenger had removed his disguise, Ahab recog- 
nized him as a prophet and expected to hear 
some prediction, which was, " Thus saith the 
Lord, ' Because thou hast let this man ' " (Ben- 
hadad) " ' go who w x as appointed to be destroyed, 
thy life shall be given for his, and thy people for 
his people.' " Ahab went to his palace sad and 
displeased and soon came to Samaria, the capital 
of his dominions. 

Naboth, an inhabitant of the city of Jezreel, 
owned a vineyard near the king's palace, and 
Ahab thought it would be a desirable place for a 
garden, therefore he would like to own it. He 
made an offer to the owner for it which was to 
give him another and better vineyard, or if he 
preferred, to pay him in money. Naboth said, 
"The Lord forbid that I should sell the inherit- 
ance of my fathers." The king was greatly dis- 
appointed and offended at the reply of the owner, 
and going to his palace, he lay down upon his 
bed with his face to the wall, indicating a 
troubled mind, and refused to take any food. 
His conduct was that of an indulged and disap- 
pointed child. 

While he was bemoaning his fortune, Jezebel, 
his wife, came to him and inquired the cause of 
his sadness, when he related the circumstances 
about the vineyard. She replied, " Do you gov- 



166 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

ern the kingdom of Israel ? Arise and take your 
food. I will manage to get the vineyard for you." 

This crafty and unscrupulous woman accom- 
plished her purpose in the following* manner. 
She wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed 
them Avith the royal seal, then sent them to the 
elders and nobles in Naboth's city, that is Jezreel, 
directing them to proclaim a fast and bring 
Naboth before the people with two "sons of 
Belial " for witnesses to testify (falsely, of course) 
that the prisoner had blasphemed God and the 
king, and then conduct him outside the city and 
stone him. 

After the queen's orders had been complied 
with, she was informed of the fact, when she told 
Ahab and urged him to take immediate posses- 
sion of the vineyard,, which was done. 

Elijah received a Divine command to go and 
meet Ahab who was in the vineyard of Naboth 
investigating its value for the purpose of a garden, 
doubtless pleased with the possession which cost 
him nothing. The prophet's message was as 
follows : " Hast thou killed and taken posses- 
sion? Thus saith the Lord, 'In the place 
where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, shall 
dogs lick thy blood.' " Ahab said to Elijah, 
" Hast thou found me, O my enemy ? " He an- 
swered, "I have found thee. Thou hast sold 
thyself to do evil in the sight of the Lord." He 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 167 

then predicted the utter destruction of all his 
posterity. The prophet declared that, " The 
dogs should eat the flesh of Jezebel by the wall 
of Jezreel, and that the dogs and fowls would eat 
all belonging to her family. "When Ahab heard 
these words, he rent his clothes and dressed him- 
self in sackcloth and fasted, when the word of 
the Lord came to Elijah, that because the king 
humbled himself, these fearful punishments would 
be deferred until his son's day. 

After three years, another war occurred be- 
tween Syria and Israel, when Ahab invited 
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to join him in the 
contest. He consented, but proposed that Ahab 
should inquire of the prophets about the ex- 
pediency of the war. The king of Israel called 
together four hundred prophets, of Baal perhaps, 
and said to them, " Shall I go against Eamoth- 
Gilead," (a place the Syrians had captured), "to 
battle or not ? " They replied, " Go, for the 
Lord will deliver it into thy hands." The king 
of Judah inquired, " Is there not a prophet of the 
Lord of whom we may inquire ? " Ahab said, 
44 There was ofie, Micaiah, the son of Imlah, but 
I hate him, for he prophesies nothing but evil of 
me." Jehoshaphat replied, 44 Let not the king 
say so." 

One of the advisers of Ahab named Zedekiah, 
had made iroii horns, saying, 44 Thus saith the 



168 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Lord, ' With these thou shalt push the Syrians until 
they are destroyed,' " and all the other prophets 
and the messengers of the king assented to his 
prediction. Ahab called an officer and gave 
orders to bring Micaiah in haste. The kings of 
Israel and Judah dressed in their royal robes, 
sat each upon his throne when the prophet was 
conducted into their presence. Ahab inquired, 
" Shall we go against Eamoth-Gilead ? " He re- 
plied, " Go and prosper for the Lord will deliver 
it into thy hands." Ahab doubtless considered 
this as irony, for he said, " How many times shall 
I adjure thee to tell me nothing but the truth ? " 
The prophet then said, " I saw all Israel scattered 
upon the hills as sheep without a shepherd. The 
Lord said these have no masters. Let every man 
return to his home in peace." Ahab said to the 
king of Judah, a Did I not tell thee he would 
prophesy no good concerning me but only evil ? " 
Then Micaiah said, " I saw the Lord sitting on His 
throne, and all the host standing on His right 
hand and on His left, when He said, ' Who will 
persuade Ahab to go to Eamoth-Gilead that he 
may fall? 5 One said this thing and another 
that, when at length there came forth a spirit 
and stood before the Lord, saying, 'I will per- 
suade him.' The Lord said, ' wherewith ? ' 
He answered, ' I will be a lying spirit in the 
mouth of his prophets. 5 ' Go forth and do so, 5 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. ' 169 

was the command. Now, therefore, the Lord 
hath put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these 
prophets." When Micaiah had expressed himself 
in this manner, Zedekiah smote him on the cheek, 
saying, " Which way went the Spirit of the Lord 
from me to speak to thee?" The prophet re- 
plied, " Thou shalt see in the day when thou shalt 
go into an inner chamber to hide thyself." Ahab 
said, " Take Micaiah to Amon, the governor of 
the city, and Joash, the king's son, and say to 
them the king commands you to put him in 
prison and give him only bread and water until 
I return in peace." The prophet said, " If you 
return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me. 
Listen, O people, every one of you." 

The prophet's warning was not heeded, and 
the two kings with their armies began their 
march to Eamoth-Gilead, a celebrated city in the 
kingdom of Israel east of the Jordan, situated 
among the mountains of Gilead, hence the name. 
Ahab proposed the following plan of attack. He 
would disguise himself, that is lay aside his royal 
attire and appear as a private soldier, while the 
king of Judah was to dress in robes such as kings 
wore. The artful policy of Ahab is apparent. 
He was aware the Syrian king considered him 
his chief enemy and would direct his followers to 
conquer and if possible kill him. This arrange- 
ment was carried out and when the king of Syria 



170 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

gave orders to the thirty -two captains command- 
ing his chariots, he told them to fight with no 
one but the king of Israel and his followers. He 
probably knew about the alliance between the 
kings of Israel and Judah. 

After the battle began, the Syrian soldiers, 
seeing Jehoshaphat in his royal attire, supposed 
he was the king of Israel, therefore they vigor- 
ously attacked his forces when, seeing he was in 
danger of being defeated, he shouted to his 
assailants, that he was not the king of Israel. 
The Syrians then gave up the pursuit of the king 
of Judah, but the battle went on, when a certain 
man, it is not known whether he was a Syrian or 
an Israelite, fired an arrow at a venture, or with- 
out any particular aim, and smote Ahab who was 
seated in his chariot, between his lower armor 
and breastplate, when he ordered the driver to 
carry him out of the army, for he was wounded, 
though he was supported in his chariot until the 
close of the day, when he died. The blood from 
his wound had flowed into the chariot, and when 
it was washed in the pool of Samaria, the dogs 
came and lapped the blood, according to the pre- 
diction of the prophet. He was buried in Sa- 
maria, and was succeeded by his son. 

Though Ahab was an idolater and committed 
many fearful crimes, yet he did much for the 
improvement of his kingdom in founding cities 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 171 

and some architectural works, as the construction 
of an ivory palace. 

Jezebel survived her husband a few years, but 
finally met with a tragical death. — (See Jehosha- 
phat, king of Judah.) 



CHAPTEE XIV. 

AHAZIAH, JOKAM OR JEHORAM, JEHU. 

Ahaziah, the son and successor of Ahab, 
reigned two years, and followed the example of 
his parents in his religious practices. His early 
death was caused by an accident. He fell down 
through a lattice or open window, from an upper 
chamber, and was severely injured, when he sent 
messengers to inquire of Beelzebub, the god of 
Ekron, whether he w r ould recover from the acci- 
dent. Elijah w r as sent by the angel of the Lord to 
meet the messengers of the king and say to them, 
" Is it because there is not a God in Israel that ye 
go to inquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron ? 
Now r , therefore, thus saith the Lord, ' Thou shalt 
not leave thy bed, but shalt surely die. 5 " The 
messengers returned and related the words of the 
prophet, when the king inquired what kind of a 
man he was. They described him, when Ahaziah 
said it was Elijah the Tishbite. An account of 
the fruitless attempts to arrest the prophet is 
related in a sketch of his life. Ahaziah died 
according to the word of the Lord and was suc- 
ceeded by his brother Joram or Jehoram, whosQ 

172 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 173 

reign continued twelve years. Though his gov- 
ernment was not faultless, yet he did not entirely 
follow the evil conduct of his parents, Ahab and 
Jezebel, since he removed the image of Baal his 
father had made. 

Joram became engaged in a war with the 
Moabites, who had been made tributary to the 
Israelites, but on the accession of a new king 
they revolted and refused to pay the tribute 
formerly given. The king of Israel sent to 
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to inquire Avhether 
he would join in a war with Moab. He said he 
would, therefore the sovereigns of Israel and 
Judah, with the king of Edom, who joined the 
confederacy, began their expedition, but in the 
region through which they passed, there was no 
water for their troops, and they were in great 
distress. It was in this emergency that Elisha 
the prophet was consulted, who predicted that 
there would be a supply of water. The Moabites 
being deceived, were overcome by the allied armies 
of Israel, Judah, and Edom. 

After this incident, the king of Syria ivent 
with an army to Samaria and besieged the capital 
city. When the people of the city had consumed 
all their food, they were in imminent danger of 
dying by famine. This caused great distress and 
was the occasion of fearful scenes, such as that of 
a mother killing and eating her own son. When 



174 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

King Joram heard of the revolting incident, he 
rent his clothes and put on sackcloth as a sign of 
great distress. Supposing that Elisha was the 
cause of all the trouble, he sent an officer to slay 
him, but the prophet was informed of the king's 
intention by Divine revelation, and guarded his 
door against the officer. He predicted that on 
the morrow there would be plenty of food in 
Samaria, but the Lord, on whose hand the king 
leaned, sneered at the prediction, when the 
prophet gave him warning of the fatal accident 
that happened to him which came to pass as fore- 
told. A more particular account is given in the 
history of Elisha. 

In a war with Hazael, king of Syria, Joram 
was wounded in a battle at Ram ah, when he was 
taken to Jezreel to be cured of his wounds. 
While at this place, Ahaziah, king of Judah, 
made him a visit to offer his sympathy to the 
wounded king. At this crisis, Elisha sent one of 
the sons of the prophets to Ramoth-Gilead, to 
anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel. 
After this ceremony, Jehu went to Jezreel, where 
Joram and Ahaziah were, and caused both of these 
kings to be slain. 

When King Joram heard that Jehu was coming, 
he, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went to meet 
him and inquired, " Is it peace, Jehu ? " His 
answer was, "What peace, so long as thy 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 175 

mother, Jezebel, ruleth ? " Joram said to 
Ahaziah, " There is treachery," when Jehu 
drew his bow and shot the king of Israel, and 
then slew the king of Judah. These two sover- 
eigns having been disposed of, the conspirator 
ascended the throne of Israel. 

Jehu, it is affirmed, was chosen by Divine ap- 
pointment to punish the family of Ahab for their 
transgressions, yet he appears to have been ac- 
tuated by hatred and a selfish ambition more than 
a sincere regard for the worship of Jehovah. 
Four of his descendants occupied the throne of 
Israel, namely, Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam II. 
and Zachariah. Between the two last sovereigns 
there was an interregnum of twenty-two years. 
Who managed state affairs, or what was the con- 
dition of the country during this period, can only 
be conjectured. The government may have been 
administrated by the high priest and his subor- 
dinates. 

Jehoahaz, son and successor of Jehu, reigned 
seventeen years, and followed the example of 
Jeroboam I. who introduced heathen practices. 
During the reign of Jehoahaz there was a war 
with the Syrians, the powerful enemy of the 
Israelites, who had been subdued by their northern 
neighbor, and their military strength was greatly 
reduced, so that only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, 
and ten thousand footmen remained of their 



176 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

available force. The king of Israel in his distress 
besought the Lord for assistance, and was heard. 
He had compassion on Israel, it is said, because 
of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob. 

Joash or Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, reigned six- 
teen years. He recovered the cities the Syrians 
had captured from Israel, and was victorious in 
three different battles with this nation. He re- 
ceived a challenge from Amaziah, king of Judah, 
to engage in a conflict with him, when the king of 
Israel delivered the parable about the thistle and 
the oak intended to teach the challenger his 
folly in seeking a war with Israel. The parable 
was as follows: "The thistle of Lebanon sent 
to the cedar saying, ' Give thy daughter to my 
son for a wife,' when there passed by a wild 
beast and trod down the thistle. Thou hast in- 
deed smitten Edom and thy heart hath lifted 
thee up. Glory not in this, and tarry at home 
for why shouldest thou fall and Judah with 
thee ? " 

Amaziah would not abandon his purpose, and 
began a war, when at the battle of Beth-Shemesh, 
he was defeated and his soldiers fled in a panic to 
their tents. Joash took the king of Judah a 
prisoner, marched to Jerusalem, broke down a 
part of the wall of the city, took all the gold, 
silver, and sacred vessels of the House of the 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 177 

Lord and the treasures of the king's house and 
returned to Samaria . 

Jeroboam II, son of Joash reigned forty-one 
years and adopted the policy of his namesake in 
regard to religious worship, but he was, however, 
an energetic and patriotic ruler who, by his suc- 
cess in war recovered the lost possessions of the 
Israelites, from Hamoth to the sea, and their 
claims in Damascus. After a long reign, he was 
succeeded by his son Zachariah, the last of the 
family of Jehu. Between the reigns of the two 
last members of the family of Jehu, the interreg- 
num, as previously noticed, occurred, and accord- 
ing to the history of nations under such con- 
ditions, it is possible there were rivalries, sedi- 
tions, and other lawless transactions, and it is 
remarkable there is no record of a civil war. 
Zachariah reigned only six months, but during 
that short period, he pursued the evil ways of 
some of his predecessors, and was assassinated by 
Shallum, son of Jabesh, who usurped the royal 
power. 

Shallum, the assassin of Zachariah, who seized 
the reins of government, held them only one 
month when he was murdered by Menahem, son 
of Gadi who went from Tirzah to Samaria for 
this purpose that he might become the king of 
Israel. He continued his government ten years 
and proved to be a fearfully cruel despot, some 



178 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

of whose deeds are too revolting to be recorded, 
especially his treatment of women. He captured 
several cities and killed the inhabitants because 
they did not acknowledge his right to govern 
them. The kingdom of Israel was, during his 
reign, threatened by an invasion of the Assyrians, 
but Menahem gave the king of Assyria one thou- 
sand talents of silver which he exapted from the 
wealthy men in his kingdom, each one giving 
fifty shekels. This tribute induced the king of 
Assyria to return to his own country without a 
war. Menahem, in his religion, followed heathen 
practices and after his death was succeeded by 
his son Pekahiah who reigned two years, and 
adopted the practices of Jeroboam I., son of 
Nebat. A conspiracy was formed by Pekah 
son of Remaliah who went to the royal palace at 
Samaria with more then fifty men associated 
with him in the plot, and assassinated the king, 
and assumed the government. During the twenty 
years of Pekatis reign, Tiglath-Pileser, king of 
Assyria, invaded the kingdom of Israel, captured 
a large number of cities, and led the inhabitants 
captive to Assyria. 

Hoshea, son of Elah, formed a conspiracy, slew 
Pekah and reigned over Israel nine years. Shal- 
meneser, king of Assyria, invaded the kingdom 
of Israel, Avhen Hoshea was brought under his 
authority and gave him presents, but the king of 



THE KINGS OF ISRAEL. 179 

Israel formed an alliance with the king of Egypt 
and withheld his presents from the Assyrian king 
who, in consequence, came to Samaria with an 
army and laid siege to the city and, after three 
years, captured it, and deported the inhabitants 
to Assyria, and thus ended the kingdom founded 
by Jeroboam, son of JSTebat, after an existence of 
less than three hundred years, or according to 
some chronologists, two hundred and seventy-one 
years. The ten captive tribes of Israel never 
returned to their native land as a nation, and 
many speculations have been, cherished in regard 
to them, as, " Will they ever return to Palestine? 
Have they lost their, identity as a distinct race 
and become a component factor of the different 
nations among whom they dwell ? " 

The history of the Israelites after the seces- 
sion is, in some respects, peculiar. During the 
short period of their existence, they had nine- 
teen kings, some of whose reigns were very brief, 
and all of them are charged with the offence of 
idolatry to a greater or less extent. Some of 
these sovereigns were assassinated by those am- 
bitious to occupy their places. 

The prophets of Israel were Ahijah, Elijah, 
Micaiah, Elisha, Jonah, Hosea, Amos, (5ded, and 
the Man from Judah, whose name is not men- 
tioned. 



180 



BIBLE CHARACTERS. 



The Kings of Israel, After the Secession. 

Reigned 22 years. 



1. 


Jeroboam I., 


2. 


Nadab, 


3. 


Baasha, 


4. 


Elah, 


5. 


Zimri, 


6. 


Omri, 


7. 


Ahab, 


8. 


Ahaziah, 


9. 


Joram or Jehoram, 


10. 


Jehu, 


11. 


Jehoahaz, 


12. 


Joash or Jehoash, 


13. 


Jeroboam II. , 




Interregnum, 


14. 


Zachariah 


15. 


Shallum, 


16. 


Menahem, 


17. 


Pekahiah, 


18. 


Pekah 




Anarchy, 


19. 


Hoshea, 



" 2 


a 


" 24 


a 


" 2 


a 


u 7 


iays. 


" 12 


years. 


" 22 




" 2 




" 12 




" 28 




" 17 




" 16 




" 41 




22 




" 6 months 


" 1 month. 


" 10 


years. 


" 2 


u 


" 20 


a 


9 


u 


9 


a 



The Kingdom of Israel overthrown by the Assyrians, 724 B. c. 



The Eloquent Orator. 



CHAPTER XV. 

HIS NATIVE PLACE. 

Ancient Tarsus was an important city of the 
province of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, situated on 
the River Cydnus, about twelve miles from its 
entrance into the Mediterranean, on a large and 
fertile plain at the foot of the Taurus mountains. 

Tarsus was a city of very great antiquity, and 
it is not certain who was the founder. Its first 
historical notice is given by Xenophon, author of 
the Anabasis, and other works. It held an im- 
portant position as a military post in the wars 
of Alexander the Great and his successors, and 
passed from one conquering power to another, 
until it came under Roman control, when it was 
made a free city and in the time of Augustus, it 
was granted immunity from taxes. 

The natives of Tarsus were distinguished for 
their intelligence and fondness for philosophical 
studies, and the city has given to the world some 

181 



182 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

notable philosophers, poets, grammarians, his- 
torians and physicians. Such was the native 
place of the Apostle Paul, a Jew whose remark- 
able career is given in the Sacred Scriptures. 

The name of Paul's father is not known, but 
he was of the tribe of Benjamin, it is supposed, 
and doubtless a strict Pharisee who trained his 
son in the same doctrines. Paul had a sister and 
other relatives, some of whom were his fellow- 
prisoners, and it is believed he had kinsmen at 
Rome. It is supposed he belonged to a promi- 
nent family, since he declared that he suffered 
the loss of all things, but according to Jewish 
law that the sons should be trained in some use- 
ful occupation, whatever their station in life, 
Paul was taught the mechanic art of tent-mak- 
ing. 

When the child was born, he was called Saul, 
a Hebrew name signifying " asked for " which 
was subsequently changed to Paul, a Latin word 
for small. Little is positively known of his 
personal appearance, though it is implied he was 
low in stature, and according to tradition, he was 
small, well-built, and graceful in motion and win- 
ning in manners. He was fair in complexion, 
his eyes were expressive, his nose acquiline, 
his forehead nearly bald, his beard thick. He 
is spoken of by Lucian, in derision, as " the 
high-nosed, bald-headed Galilean." His consti- 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 183 

tution was infirm, and he is mentioned by Je- 
rome as being afflicted with headache. Some 
critics have supposed he had a defect in his eyes, 
and that this was the " thorn in the flesh " of 
which the apostle speaks. He was so highly en- 
dowed with the gift of eloquence, that Longinus, 
a distinguished Greek philosopher, classed him 
among the greatest orators of antiquity, and 
when preaching at Lystra, he so impressed the 
people that they called him Mercury, the god of 
eloquence, while Barnabas they designated Ju- 
piter, whose priest brought oxen and garlands 
with which to decorate the victims of sacrifice, 
to be offered to Paul and Barnabas.* When these 
disciples heard of it, they rent their clothes as an 
expression of horror, and hastened to stop the 
intended sacrifice, saying, "Why do ye these 
things ? We are men like yourselves," that is 
are human, "and should not receive religious 
homage. We exhort you to turn from these 
vanities, unto the living God, the Creator of all 
things," etc. Notwithstanding his eloquence and 
powerful arguments, Paul found it difficult to re- 
strain the people of Lystra from offering sacri- 
fices to himself and Barnabas, yet strange to say, 
these same heathen who considered Paul a god, 
stoned him at the instigation of the Jews, and 
carried his body outside the walls, supposing he 
was dead, but when the disciples stood near their 



184 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

departed friend, as they supposed, he rose from 
the ground and with them entered the city, and 
the next day left with Barnabas for Derbe. 

Paul was thoroughly educated in the schools 
of Tarsus, then sent to Jerusalem to be trained 
under Gamaliel, according to the strictest rules 
of the Pharisees, in the national religion, and he 
became very zealous for the observance of the 
Laws of Moses. Gamaliel was an illustrious 
doctor of the Jewish law and grandson of Hill el, 
one of the distinguished compilers of the Talmud, 
the great depository of the doctrines and opin- 
ions of the Jews. The apostle, though a Jew, 
being a native of Tarsus, was neither a slave nor 
an alien, but was entitled to all the privileges of 
a Roman citizen, as he claimed on a certain oc- 
casion. Before his conversion, he was an intol- 
erant persecutor of the Christians, and cherished 
his relentless animosity to its utmost extent the 
law would allow, but the Sanhedrim had no 
power to put offenders to death. It is said of 
Paul " he made havoc of the church," like a wild 
beast, and searched houses to find the disciples 
whom he forcibly conducted to prison. He ap- 
proved of the sentence of Stephen, the first 
Christian martyr, and was a witness of his death, 
by stoning. 

Many of the Jews had emigrated to Damascus, 
a city in Syria, and among them were Christians 




Paulus. 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 185 

who may have gone there to avoid persecution. 
Paul determined to follow them, with the inten- 
tion of bringing both men and women bound as 
prisoners to Jerusalem. Five or six days would 
be necessary to make the journey. It was es- 
sential he should have a commission from some 
accredited authority, therefore he went to the 
high priest for letters to the Jews, allowing him 
to arrest any Christians found in the city, and 
bring them to Jerusalem. 

An escort being appointed to attend him, he 
started with his orders for arrests, crossed the 
Jordan to the mountainous region on the east 
side, the usual route to Syria, and travelled 
several days without any incident of special in- 
terest. Doubtless the mind of Paul was occupied 
with the object of his journey, and the success of 
his efforts to suppress the hated doctrines and 
worship of the Christians, whom he would pun- 
ish in every way the law allowed, and his great- 
est dissatisfaction was, that it did not permit 
them to be put to death. 

As they drew near Damascus, one day at noon, 
there appeared a .strange phenomenon in the 
form of a supernatural light, surpassing that of 
the sun. Amazed and blinded by its brilliancy, 
Paul fell to the earth, when he Jheard a voice 
speaking in his native language, " Saul ; Saul ; 
why do you persecute me ? " 



186 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

The attendants of the apostle saw the light, 
but did not understand the words, not being ac- 
quainted with the language. The question is 
suggested, who were his companions ? Were 
they Romans or Jews ? They may have been 
Romans, but the Hebrew language which Paul 
understood, being an educated man, the common 
people at that time did not use, for after the 
captivity, they adopted a dialect called Syro- 
Chaldean or Syro-Phoenician. Paul inquired of 
the Yoice, " Who art thou, Lord ? " " I am 
Jesus, whom thou persecutest," was the reply. 
"It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," 
that is goads, a figure of speech denoting it is 
difficult to resist successfully, the authority of 
One who has a right to command, or in other 
words, to oppose the leadings of Providence. 

The term pricks applied to any sharp point, 
but it commonly meant an ox-goad which, among 
the Hebrews, was very large. The figure refers 
to a stubborn ox kicking against the goad, and as 
the ox would injure no one but himself, it was 
used to denote an obdurate and rebellious dispo- 
sition. The men who journeyed with Saul to 
Damascus, may have been appointed to aid him 
or it has been suggested, they may have been 
travellers whom he chanced to meet with. On 
the appearance of the supernatural light they all 
fell to the earth, but soon arose and stood speech- 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 187 

less. They heard a sound, but did not under- 
stand the words spoken to Saul. 

The apostle inquired, "Lord, what wilt Thou 
have me do ? " The answer was, " Go into the 
city and it shall be told thee what to do." When 
Saul or Paul arose from the ground, he could not 
see, for his eyes had been blinded by the dazzling 
light. This darkness continued three days, dur- 
ing which he took no food or drink. There is no 
reason to suppose Saul's blindness was miraculous, 
for it is not unfrequently the case that persons 
have been deprived of their sight by watching an 
eclipse of the sun, or its brilliant splendor at its 
setting. The effect is caused by the intense 
action on the optic nerve. Sometimes it is per- 
manent, and at others, it continues for a time when 
the sight is restored. 

As the dazzling light had blinded Saul he was 
led by his attendants into Damascus and con- 
ducted to the house of Judas, probably a disciple, 
in a street called Straight. In the modern city 
there is a street by that name, extending from the 
eastern to the western gate. According to tradi- 
tion, Saul had a vision here as recorded in 2 Corin- 
thians xii. 2. The apostle saw one named Ananias 
coming to him and placed his hands upon him, 
that he might receive his sight. Some critics here 
supposed that Ananias was one of the seventy 
disciples sent to preach the gospel by the Saviour. 



188 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

He had heard of Saul and his persecutions, and 
of his authority from the chief priests to bind all 
Christians found at Damascus, and conduct them 
as prisoners to Jerusalem, therefore, he hesitated 
when told to go to Saul, but the Lord said, " Go 
thy way, for he is a chosen vessel for making 
known the gospel to the Jews, Gentiles and 
kings, and I will show him how great the suffer- 
ings he must endure for My name's sake." 

When Ananias came to the blind penitent, he 
placed his hands on him and said, " Brother Saul, 
the Lord even Jesus who appeared to thee, sent 
me that thou mightest receive thy sight and be 
filled with the Holy Spirit." 

Immediately there fell from his eyes, as it 
were, scales, and he saw objects and was baptized. 
The scales was a figure of speech to denote the 
sudden cure. Saul's blindness was the result of a 
natural cause, but his restoration to sight was 
miraculous. He partook of food after his fast of 
three days, and regained his physical strength. 

When a slave was bought, the owner put his 
mark or brand upon him, and Paul, in writing to 
the Galatians, said, " That he bore the mark of 
the Lord Jesus," and this may have been the 
" thorn in the flesh " of which he speaks. 

Though his sight was restored after being 
blinded on his way to Damascus, yet it may have 
been somewhat impaired ever afterward, for on a 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 189 

certain occasion, when he said to the high priest, 
"God will smite thee, thou whited wall," he 
apologized, saying he did not recognize the robes 
of the high priest, which may have been on ac- 
count of imperfect sight. This idea seems to be 
confirmed by what the apostle wrote to the 
Galatians, namely, that " They were willing to 
pluck out their eyes and give them to him." 

After his baptism, Paul preached in Damascus 
for a time, when he went to Arabia, and after 
three years, returned to Damascus. His Chris- 
tian labors surprised his hearers, but aroused the 
enmity of the Jews who formed a plot to as- 
sassinate him, and to prevent his escape from the 
city, they watched the gates day and night. 
This conspiracy was known to Paul, when the 
disciples lowered him by night on the outside of 
the wall, in a basket, and he escaped to Jeru- 
salem. As the walls of Damascus were not high, 
it was not a very difficult performance for his 
friends to lower him to the ground, and thus 
save his life. 

Damascus is one of the most ancient cities of 
the world, and nearly four thousand years ago it 
was a flourishing and important town. It has 
passed through many changes under different 
rulers, but neither the Persians, Greeks, Romans, 
nor Moslems, who claim it at the present time, 
have been able wholly to destroy its fascinating 



190 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

beauty. It is situated about fifty miles from the 
sea, in a fertile and extensive plain, watered by 
what the Greeks called " Golden River," of which 
the Abana and Pharpa are supposed to form 
branches. The exact date of its settlement is not 
certain, though there are many conjectures on the 
subject. The city was enclosed by a wall and 
was surrounded by a plain nearly eighty miles in 
circumference, w r hile the land adjacent to the 
city afforded gardens of great extent which 
yielded fruits of various kinds. It was the cap- 
ital of Syria in ancient times, and existed in the 
days of Abraham. Hadad, one of its kings, was 
conquered by David. 

This renowned city was captured at different 
times by Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, the 
Maccabees, Romans, and Saracens, who made it 
a capital, until Bagdad became their chief city. 
It was taken by Tamerlane A. d. 1400, repaired 
by the Mamelukes, and finally captured by the 
Turks a. d. 1500. The Emperor Diocletian, A. D. 
284-305, established a large factory for the manu- 
facture of arms at this place, hence the origin of 
the famous Damascus blades. 

After Paul escaped from Damascus and came 
to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the company 
of disciples in that city, but they did not believe 
he had been converted and, aw^are of his former 
persecuting spirit, they feared him. Though he 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 191 

had been absent three years or more, probably 
these Christians at Jerusalem had not been 
informed of the change in Paul's feelings and 
conduct. Barnabas, a native of Cyprus, an 
island not far from Tarsus, was, it is presumed, 
acquainted with Paul either personally or by 
reputation, therefore he conducted him to the 
Apostles Peter, James, and perhaps some others, 
and related the circumstances of his conversion. 
After this introduction and explanation of Barna- 
bas, he was admitted to their confidence and 
recognized as an apostle. 

During the fifteen days of his sojourn at 
Jerusalem, Paul boldly declared, both to native 
and foreign Jews, that Jesus was the Christ. 
While some of his countrymen accepted his 
doctrines, the larger number rejected them and 
formed a conspiracy to murder him, when the 
Christians learning their plot, conducted him to 
Cesarea, and then sent him to Tarsus. 

As he came in sight of his native city, where 
he had spent his childhood and early youth, in its 
celebrated schools, doubtless he was moved by 
many conflicting emotions. Only a few years 
before he, as a bigoted Pharisee, went to Jeru- 
salem to complete' his studies, cherishing the most 
bitter hatred toward the new sect called Chris- 
tian, and determined to persecute them to the 
utmost. Now he returned to his early home as 



192 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

one of the followers of the despised ISTazarene, 
determined to lay down his life, if necessary, for 
1 His sake. Could a more remarkable moral change 
in his character have been effected ? The whole 
course of his life would henceforth be entirely 
different from what he had planned in his youth. 
The conversion of Paul was one of the most 
remarkable in the history of the church, and its 
influence more widely felt than that of any other 
Christian. He may be considered the pioneer of 
foreign missions. 



OHAPTEE XYI. 

PAUL'S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY. 

Barnabas was sent by the church at Jeru- 
salem to Antioch, to preach the gospel, and as a 
result, there was a great revival, therefore he 
needed an assistant in his labors. He went to 
Tarsus to seek the aid of Saul, or Paul, and con- 
ducted him to Antioch, where they labored one 
year, with great success. The disciples were first 
called Christians at Antioch, a name given to 
them either as a term of reproach, or assumed by 
themselves, in honor of their Divine Master. 
The name is used in the New Testament only 
twice besides in this place ; as when Agrippa 
said to Paul, " Almost thou persuadest me to be 
a Christian," and again in 1 Peter iv. 16, " If 
any man suffer as a Christian," etc. 

A brief description of Antioch is as follows : 
There were several cities, sixteen in all, known 
by this name, including those in Syria and Asia 
Minor. The one in Syria was situated on both 
sides of the River Orontes, about twenty miles 
from the sea. It dates from 300 b. c, and was 
a strongly fortified place, and reckoned as the 

193 



194 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

third city, in importance, of the Roman Em- 
pire. 

It was nearly square and had many gates, and 
a circumference of twelve miles. This city was 
celebrated for its beautiful palaces, magnificent 
temples, numerous fountains, and the extent of 
its commerce. 

The genius, learning, and culture of the in- 
habitants, were celebrated throughout the world. 
Cicero said, " It was a noble city abounding in 
eminent men." The larger number of its citizens 
were Greeks and Syrians, though many Jews 
settled there who were allowed its privileges 
equally, with the Greeks. 

The heathen population had the reputation of 
being very immoral, and were largely the vota- 
ries of Venus and Bacchus. Such was this fa- 
mous city in the time of the apostles, yet in this 
unpromising soil, Christianity took root. The 
church was greatly enlarged by the labors of 
Paul and Barnabas, and became their rendezvous, 
and also that of Peter. It was the native place 
of St. Luke. 

It has been estimated that the Christians of 
Antioch in the fourth century, numbered 100,000, 
but there was a gradual decline in this powerful 
church, after flourishing three centuries, which 
suffered by terrible persecutions. The declension 
began at the close of the fourth century, when 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 195 

the foundation of a general apostasy was laid that, 
in the course of two centuries, overspread the 
whole Christian world. The city of Antioch 
came under Moslem rule, and at the present day, 
is nearly in ruins. This celebrated metropolis 
was the ancient capital of the Greek kings of 
Syria, and was built by Seleucus Nicator, the 
founder of sixteen cities by the name of Antioch. 
In ancient times, the natives were celebrated for 
their sarcasm and ingenuity in devising nick- 
names. When the Persians invaded Syria, the 
people of Antioch made them the object of their 
witty jests, for which the conquerors totally de- 
stroyed their city, but it was rebuilt by the Ro- 
mans. Subsequently, it was conquered by the 
Saracens, recovered by the Greeks, taken by the 
Mohammedans, captured by the Crusaders, and 
seized by the Sultan of Egypt. At the present 
time it forms a part of Syria. In 1872, it was 
nearly destroyed by an earthquake. 

"While Barnabas and Saul were at Antioch, 
there came to this city prophets from Jerusalem, 
and one of them named Agabus, predicted there 
would be a great famine throughout the world, 
meaning, probably, it would be extensive. This 
prediction was fulfilled in the reign of the Em- 
peror Claudius Cassar, 41-54 A. D. Four dif- 
ferent famines occurred during his reign, in dif- 
ferent parts of the world. 



196 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

The disciples at Antioch united in a plan for 
assisting their brethren in Judea, by contribu- 
tions, according to each one's ability, sent by 
Barnabas and Saul, or Paul, which were de- 
livered to the elders of the church for distribu- 
tion among the members. Having accomplished 
their mission they returned to Antioch. 

There were in the church at this place certain 
prophets and teachers who, as they were engaged 
in united prayer, received a direct revelation 
from the Holy Spirit, saying, " Separate Barna- 
bas and Saul or Paul for the work to which I 
have called them." When they had prayed they 
laid their hands on them and sent them to their 
field of labor. This was the first formal Chris- 
tian mission to the Gentiles. Having been 
called to the work of preaching the gospel to the 
heathen, these missionaries departed for Seleucia, 
a city at the entrance of the River Orontes into 
the Mediterranean, where they embarked on 
board a ship for Cyprus. 

This island was settled at a very early period 
by the Phoenicians and, according to tradition, 
Greeks settled here soon after the Trojan war. 
It became subject to the king of Egypt, then to 
the Persians, and after a severe struggle it re- 
gained its independence, but eventually it fell to 
the Ptolemys of Egypt. The Romans made 
Cyprus one of their provinces. Salamis its chief 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 197 

city was founded, it is claimed, by a son of one 
of the Trojan heroes. It was nearly destroyed 
by an insurrection of the Jews and an earth- 
quake in the reign of the Emperor Trajan, but 
was rebuilt by Constantine and named Con- 
stantia. A few ruins of the old town remain. 
There was a small island called Salamis, cele- 
brated in classical history for the great naval 
battle between the Persians under Xerxes*, and 
the Greeks, 480 b. c, in which the former were 
defeated. 

While Barnabas and Saul were at Salamis, 
they preached the gospel in the synagogues of 
the Jews, many of whom were found in Cyprus 
as well as in all other places adjacent to Judea. 
The apostles uniformly proclaimed their doc- 
trines first, to their own countrymen, but when 
they refused to listen, these evangelists sought 
the Gentiles and preached to them, often with 
remarkable success. John Mark was an attend- 
ant of Barnabas and Saul or Paul in this mission- 
ary tour who probably made the necessary ar- 
rangements for their comfort and the supply of 
their wants, during their journey. When they 
had gone through the island which was nearly 
one hundred and seventy miles from east to 
west, they came to Paphos, a city at the Avestern 
extremity, and the residence of the proconsul. 
It contained a magnificent temple of Venus, the 



198 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

favorite divinity of the island and according to 
tradition was her birthplace. Cyprus being sub- 
ject to the Roman Emperor, was governed by a 
proconsul appointed by him. The name of this 
official in the time of Paul was Sergius Paulus 
who was an honorable "man with liberal views, 
and willing to listen to any new ideas advanced. 
Having heard about Barnabas and Saul or Paul, 
he sent for them to hear for himself the doctrines 
they proclaimed. Bar-Jesus, a Jew called also 
Elymas the magician, resisted them, believing 
that if Paul and Barnabas gained an influence 
over the proconsul, he would lose his own popu- 
larity, therefore he sought to prevent this Roman 
official from becoming the friend and patron of 
Christians. 

Paul being under the influence of the Holy 
Spirit, fixed his eyes upon the sorcerer, saying, 
" O full of deceit and cunning, thou child of the 
devil, and enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou 
not cease to pervert the ways of the Lord ? Thou 
shalt be blind for a season." Immediately there 
came to him a darkness so intense that he could 
not see any object, and was obliged to have 
some one lead him by the hand. When the 
deputy saw what had occurred, he was con- 
vinced that Elymas was an impostor, and that 
the doctrine of Paul was true. This may have 
been an intellectual conviction only, and it 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 199 

is not known whether he became a genuine 
convert. 

Paul with his companions, Barnabas and John 
Mark, left Paphos in the Island of Cyprus, and 
sailed for Perga, a city in Pamphilia, a province 
of Asia Minor, opposite the island. Perga was 
the metropolis of Pamphilia, and was situated on 
the River Cestus, some distance from its mouth. 
There was a celebrated temple of Diana on a 
mountain near, at which were held yearly festi- 
vals. John Mark left his party and returned to 
Jerusalem for reasons not explained, but as the 
apostle was unwilling to take him as a travelling 
companion on a future occasion, it is presumed 
his conduct was not approved. 

Barnabas and Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, 
as it was called, to distinguish it from Antioch 
in Syria, and, though within the limits of 
Phrygia, it belonged to Pisidia. Phrygia in 
Asia Minor, varied in extent at different times. 
It formed the western part of the great cen- 
tral table-land of Asia Minor, while the north- 
eastern region, conquered by the Gauls, com- 
prised the western part of Galatia, and event- 
ually it came under Roman jurisdiction. This 
province was very rich in various kinds of pro- 
ductions, and in some places there were salt 
lakes. Its mountains furnished gold and marble, 
its valleys oil and wine, its hills afforded pasture 
• 



200 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

for sheep, and its marshes yielded abundance of 
salt. 

Phrygia occupied an important position in 
early Greek culture and music, especially that of 
the flute. The kingdom of Phrygia which 
claimed a great age, was conquered by Croesus, 
and at one period, constituted a part of the 
Persian dominions, and subsequently the Syro- 
Grecian empire. After their conquest, the 
Phrygians seemed to have lost all intellectual 
activity and became proverbial for their stupid- 
ity and submissive spirit, especially among the 
Greeks and Romans, who regarded them with 
contempt. 

When these missionaries came to Antioch in 
Pisidia, they went into a synagogue on the Sab- 
bath and sat down.. The rulers of the syna- 
gogue who were conducting the services, com- 
prising the reading of the law and the prophets, 
recognizing Paul and Barnabas as Jews, said to 
them, "Men and brethren, if ye have anything 
to say to the people, we will hear it." Then 
Paul arose and making a gesture with his hand, 
began his discourse by the prologue, "Men of 
Israel, and ye that fear God, give attention." 
" Ye that fear God " may have referred to pros- 
elytes who had accepted the Jewish religion. 
The apostle's ultimate design was to prove that 
Jesus was t?he Messiah, but to attain this object 




Paul at Ephesus. 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 201 

it was important to avoid arousing their preju- 
dice, therefore he declared he was a firm believer 
in the doctrines of their fathers, as revealed in 
their Scriptures. Paul rehearses in a summary 
manner, the history of his nation, and affirms 
that a promise had been given, that a Saviour 
should be sent into the world, and that He had 
come and had suffered death. He refers to the 
testimony of John the Baptist in support of his 
theory. A favorite doctrine of the Jews was, 
that they were, in a special sense, the people of 
God, therefore Paul reminds them of many 
events in their remarkable history, as their de- 
liverance from Egyptian bondage, their conquest 
of Canaan, the period of the Judges, the estab- 
lishment of monarchy, and reign of the Shepherd 
king from whom Jesus descended, according to 
the flesh. " Men and brethren, descendants of 
Abraham," or native Jews, " and whoever among 
you feareth God " — or proselytes — " to you is 
the message of salvation sent." The gospel was 
first preached to the Jews, and Christ Himself 
was sent to them. 

The apostle then refers to the rulers of his 
people at Jerusalem, who, though they read the 
prophets every Sabbath day, yet they did not 
understand their predictions concerning the 
Messiah, that He would be poor, a " Man of sor- 
rows and acquainted with grief," and that He 



202 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

would be put to death according to their request, 
and that He would rise again that salvation from 
sin and its consequences might be proclaimed to 
all the world. Paul then closes his address by a 
solemn warning, lest the calamity threatened by 
the prophets should come upon them. The above 
is a brief summar}^ of the apostle's discourse, in 
the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. 

When the congregation was dismissed, many 
of the Jews and Greek proselytes followed Paul 
and Barnabas who exhorted them to be steadfast 
in the grace of God. The news concerning the 
evangelists was circulated among the people, 
when a great multitude, on the next Sabbath, 
assembled to hear the word of God, but when 
the Jews witnessed their popularity, they were 
envious and contradicted the apostles, and 
treated with scorn the name of Jesus of Naza- 
reth. Then Paul and Barnabas became more 
bold, saying, " That it was according to the 
Divine will, that the gospel should first be 
preached to the Jews, but as ye will not listen, 
and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, 
we offer these blessings to the Gentiles, for the 
Lord said, ' I have sent thee to be a light to the 
Gentiles that thou shouldst be the instrument of 
salvation to all the world.'" When the Gentiles 
heard this, they rejoiced and those who Avere 
disposed to accept, believed, so that the gospel 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR, 203 

was published throughout all the region, but the 
Jews aroused the opposition of the chief men of 
the city and, aided by the women of rank and 
influence, they incited a persecution against the 
apostles and banished them from the province, 
when they went to Iconium, but the disciples in 
Antioch were inspired with joy in their new ex- 
perience, guided by the influence of the Holy 
Spirit. 

Iconium, in Asia Minor, was, in Paul's day, a 
flourishing city with a mixed population of Jews 
and Greeks. It was situated about one hundred 
and twenty miles from the Mediterranean and is 
represented as having a fine climate with gar- 
dens and meadows surrounded by lofty moun- 
tains covered with perpetual snow. It was an 
important city in the time of the Crusades. A 
church was established at this place by the 
Apostle Paul, 45 A. D., that continued to flourish 
until the persecutions by the Saracens and Turks. 
The city still exists under a different name, and 
contains a number of mosques, colleges, and other 
public buildings, but it is in a state of decline. 
It was at Iconium that Paul first became" ac- 
quainted with Timothy. Paul and Barnabas 
went into the synagogue and preached to the 
people with such success, that a great number, 
both Jews and Greeks, believed. The apostles 
continued a long time in the city, speaking boldly 



204 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

in the name of the Lord Jesus, and performed 
many miracles, but the unbelieving Je\vs aroused 
the opposition of the Gentiles against them, and 
there was a division, part of the citizens taking 
the side of the Jews, and part that of the apostles, 
when a mob collected, comprising both Jews and 
Gentiles, with the intention of stoning Paul and 
Barnabas who, being aware of their plot, fled to 
Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, a province 
of Asia Minor, w T here they preached the gospel 
throughout the whole region. These two cities 
were near each other. While at Lystra, Paul 
healed a cripple who had been lame from his 
birth, while he was preaching to the multitude. 
The apostle observing the lame man said to him 
in a loud voice, " Stand on thy feet," and imme- 
diately he sprang up and walked. When the 
people saw what was done, they shouted in the 
language of Lycaonia, " The gods are come down 
to us in the likeness of men." They called Bar- 
nabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury. The priests 
of Jupiter brought oxen and garlands to the 
gate, to offer sacrifice to the apostles. The vic- 
tims offered in sacrifice were usually decorated 
with chaplets of flowers. 

When the apostles were aware of their inten- 
tion, as previously mentioned, they rent their 
clothes as an expression of their abhorrence, and 
hastened to the people, saying, " Sirs, why do ye 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 205 

these things ? We are men like yourselves and 
we come to make known that ye should cease to 
worship idols, and should serve the living God 
who is the Creator of heaven and earth, and all 
things therein, and gives us all our blessings," 
etc., yet with these arguments, they were so con- 
fident that the apostles were gods, it was diffi- 
cult to restrain them from offering sacrifices. 

Wherever these evangelists went to preach the 
gospel, thej r encountered the opposition of their 
own countrymen. Jews from Antioch and Ico- 
nium came to Lystra for the purpose of arousing 
opposition, when they stoned Paul, as previously 
mentioned, and, supposing he was dead, they 
carried his body outside the walls and left it un- 
buried. Paul was only stupefied by the stoning, 
and as the disciples stood about his unconscious 
body, he arose and went into the city and the 
next day left with Barnabas for Derbe, a town 
of Lycaonia, the residence of Antipater, a friend 
of Cicero. When they had preached the gospel 
in that city they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and 
Antioch. These apostles manifested remarkable 
courage in returning to the places where they 
had been persecuted, and in one instance stoned. 
Their object was to confirm the young converts 
who were surrounded by enemies and exposed to 
temptations, and as they had but a slight ac- 
quaintance with the gospel, it was important 



206 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

they should be further instructed. The apostles 
exhorted them to continue in the faith and re- 
minded them that it was through great tribula- 
tion that we enter the kingdom of God. When 
Paul and Barnabas had appointed elders in every 
church, and had commended them to the Lord 
with prayer and fasting, they travelled through- 
out Pisidia and came to Pamphylia, a province 
of Asia Minor, and after preaching in Perga 
during their second visit, they went to Attalia, 
a city on the seashore, built by Attalus Phila- 
delphus, king of Pergamus, who gave it his own 
name. It was here they embarked for Antioch 
when they had been appointed as travelling mis- 
sionaries, and when the church assembled, the 
apostles rehearsed what had been their experi- 
ence, their dangers and their successes, and how 
they had preached the gospel to the Gentiles. 
Here they remained a long time with the dis- 
ciples, but how long they were at Antioch is not 
intimated, though nothing more is heard of them 
until the council at Jerusalem assembled to settle 
a question of dispute about circumcision. It is 
supposed that an interval of from five to eight 
years occurred, of which there is no account in 
the Scriptures, but it is probable that Paul made 
several journeys to different places during this 
period. To this time, Christians had suffered 
violent persecutions from their enemies, but now 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 207 

the churches were at peace ; and at Antioch they 
enjoyed great prosperity. In none of them had 
there been any internal conflicts of opinions or 
practices, but this union was soon to be inter- 
rupted. Certain men from Judea, probably con- 
verted Jews, came to Antioch and the regions 
adjacent, and said to the disciples, " Except ye 
be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye 
cannot be saved." 

Paul and Barnabas held an earnest discussion 
with them on the subject, since important prin- 
ciples were to be settled affecting the organiza- 
tion of the Christian church. The doctrines 
advanced by the messengers from Judea would 
tend to distract the minds of Christians, and for 
this reason it was important to oppose them, 
therefore it was agreed that these preachers, 
with certain others, should go to Jerusalem and 
have the question settled by the apostles and 
elders of that city. The authority of the earlier 
apostles would be acknowledged by all, as they 
had been instructed by the Saviour Himself. It 
is supposed that this journey to Jerusalem was 
the one to which Paul refers in his Epistle to the 
Galatians, in which he affirms it was fourteen 
years after his conversion. Among those who 
accompanied Paul, was Titus, a converted Greek, 
and subsequently his travelling companion. It 
was customary for Christians to attend the 



208 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

apostles in their travels, therefore some members 
of the church accompanied Paul, who passed 
through Phenice and Samaria, making known 
the glad tidings of the conversion of the Gentiles, 
which caused great joy among the brethren. 
These places were on their direct route to Je- 
rusalem. 

Phenice or Phenicia was a province of Syria, 
and has been considered the birthplace of com- 
merce, and was eminent in ancient art and lit- 
erature. The Phoenicians constructed the Temple 
of Solomon, while their sailors navigated his 
ships. Their enterprising spirit led them to 
establish colonies in different parts of Asia, 
Europe, Africa, and probably in many of the 
islands of the Mediterranean, but the most 
famous of their colonies was that of Carthage. 
They attracted to their coast nearly all the com- 
merce between the East and the West. 

Samaria, with its capital city of the same name, 
was a celebrated region in the history of the 
Israelites, as is well known by students of the 
Sacred Scriptures. 

When Paul and his companions arrived at 
Jerusalem, they were received in a hospitable 
and friendly manner by the apostles, elders and 
private members of the church, and acknowledged 
by them as Christian brethren, when Paul and 
Barnabas related the facts about the conversion 






THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 209 

of the Gentiles, and the origin of the question in 
dispute. They were, however, opposed by certain 
Pharisees, who affirmed that the rite of circum- 
cism should be administered to the Gentile con- 
verts. A convention was called comprising 
apostles, elders, and members of the church to 
settle the dispute, and after much discussion, 
Peter arose to address the audience. 

There was a propriety in his taking the lead in 
this controversy, for he was, probably, the oldest 
of those assembled and the most accustomed to 
speak, besides, he had witnessed the conversion 
of Gentiles without the Mosaic rites. He begins * 
his argument by addressing them as follows : 
" Men and brethren, ye know that some time ago 
God chose me to preach the gospel to the 
Gentiles," referring to Cornelius and those 
assembled at Cesarea, " to whom was given the 
Holy Spirit, making no distinction between them 
and us, though they had not conformed to the 
law of Moses. Now, why tempt God by putting 
a yoke upon the disciples which neither our 
fathers nor we were able to bear ? We believe 
we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus 
Christ." 

Then the company of private Christians lis- 
tened to Paul and Ba*rnabas as they declared 
what miracles and wonders God had wrought 
among the Gentiles by them. The company of 



210 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

private Christians listened to Paul and Barnabas, 
who related to them an account of their labors. 
After they had closed their remarks, the Apostle 
James made a speech. This was James, the son 
of Alpheus, called James the Less, to distinguish 
him from James the Greater. 

He said, "Men and brethren, listen to me. 
Simeon," the Hebrew name for Simon, and 
applied to Peter, " hath declared how God did 
at first visit the Gentiles, to choose a people for 
His name, according to the prophets, therefore, I 
give my opinion that we trouble not the Gentile 
Christians by imposing upon them burdensome 
rites and ceremonies. I recommend that we 
write to them as an expression of our judgment, 
that they abstain from certain practices con- 
sidered wrong, and that they avoid the gross 
vices common amongst the heathen, which the 
law of Moses prohibited, and which is read in the 
synagogues every Sabbath day." 

The suggestion of James was approved by the 
apostles and elders, and also by the whole church, 
therefore they chose Paul and Barnabas with 
Judas and Silas to carry letters on the subject to 
the Gentile Christians in Antioch, Syria, and 
Cilicia. In this letter special mention is made 
of Paul and Barnabas, who hazarded their lives 
for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When the messengers were dismissed, they 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 211 

started on their journey and came to Antioch, 
and when they had called together the multi- 
tude, they delivered the epistle which, after it 
was read, caused great rejoicing for the consola- 
tion it afforded. This closes the account of the 
first Christian council, — Judas and Silas being 
preachers, exhorted the brethren and confirmed 
them by their instructions. After remaining at 
Antioch for a time, Judas returned to Jerusalem, 
but Silas remained. Meanwhile Paul and Barna- 
bas continued at Antioch laboring with many 
others, for the advancement of Christianity. 
After some time, 'Paul suggested to Barnabas 
that they should visit the cities where they had 
preached the gospel, to learn the condition of the 
churches. Barnabas approved of the plan, but 
he wished to take with him John Mark, his 
nephew, but Paul thought it would not be best 
since he, on a former occasion, left them in 
Pamphylia without a reasonable cause. A sharp 
contention occurred between them* which re- 
sulted in a separation, when Barnabas took Mark 
and sailed for Cyprus, the native place of Barna- 
, bas, while Paul chose Silas, and being commended 
in prayer to God, by the brethren, went through 
Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches. Silas 
has been supposed by some, to have been one of 
the seventy disciples sent by their Lord to pro- 
claim the gospel. He became the travelling com- 



212 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

panion of Paul after his separation from Barna- 
bas, about whom nothing further is revealed in 
the Scriptures. This eminent evangelist and suc- 
cessful laborer, it is said, was a Levite, a native 
of Cyprus, educated by Gamaliel, the instructor 
of Paul. His name was Joses to which the 
apostle added Barnabas, meaning the " son of 
consolation." The contention between Paul and 
Barnabas which led to the occupation of differ- 
ent fields of labor, though to be regretted as an 
illustration of human frailty, was overruled for 
the advancement of the gospel, since they pro- 
claimed it in a wider region. It is believed this 
difference of opinion between Paul and Barnabas 
was subsequently reconciled, when they again be- 
came travelling companions. There is evidence 
also that Paul became reconciled to John Mark, 
to which the apostle alludes in his Epistles to the 
Corinthians, Galatians, Philemon, and Timothy. 



CHAPTER XYIL 

PAUL'S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY. 

Accompanied by Silas, Paul returned to 
Derbe and Lystra where he met a disciple named 
Timotheus or Timothy, a native of one of these 
cities, whose mother, named Eunice, was a Jewess, 
and a Christian, but his father was a Greek. It 
was not allowed by their law for Jews to in- 
termarry with Gentiles, but this injunction was 
not strictly observed by those especially, living 
in heathen lands. 

Timothy at this time, was a very young man, 
and Paul addressed him as such when he was 
urged to take charge of the church at Ephesus. 
He was highly esteemed for his piety and prom- 
ise for future usefulness, by the brethren at 
Lystra and Iconium. He had been carefully 
trained in a knowledge of the Scriptures by his 
mother, but his father being a Greek, he had 
not been circumcised, when Paul had the rite ad- 
ministered to him, on account of the Jews who 
understood that his father was a Gentile. This 
was an expedient adopted by the apostle for the 
sake of peace, 



214 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

As Paul and Silas journeyed through the 
cities of Syria, Cilicia and other places, they de- 
livered to the Christians the decision of the 
Council at Jerusalem on the question submitted 
to it. This document may have been an attested 
copy of the letter sent to the various churches of 
the Gentiles by the apostles and elders at Jeru- 
salem, the object of which was to establish them 
in the faith and increase their numbers. 

Cilicia was a district in the southeastern part 
of Asia Minor enclosed on all sides except the 
western, by natural boundaries. The Syrians are 
supposed to have been the earliest inhabitants. It 
was conquered by the Persians, and later by 
Alexander, and formed a part of the kingdom of 
the Seleucidae. Its inhabitants comprising differ- 
ent tribes, - were robbers and pirates, until 
Pompey subdued them, when their country be- 
came a Roman province, 67 B. c. They were 
called by the Greeks and Romans the " Three 
bad K's," as their names began with that letter. 

After Paul and Silas had travelled through 
Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were for- 
bidden to preach the word in Asia. Galatia was 
a province in Asia Minor, formerly conquered 
and settled by the Gauls to which they gave their 
name. They invaded the country at different 
times and many of them settled there. Jews 
also had migrated to this region. 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 215 

The people of Galatia adopted, to a great ex- 
tent, the habits and religious customs of the 
Greeks, but preserved their own language and 
forms of governments. They comprised three 
great tribes, each divided into four parts, and at 
the head of these were twelve men with one 
chief or leader called a tetrarch, w T hile under him 
were several different officers. Many Christian 
churches were established in Galatia, but the 
members were mostly Jewish converts. 

Why the evangelists, Paul and Silas, were for- 
bidden, by a Divine revelation, to preach at this 
time the word of God, and the glad tidings of 
salvation by Christ, to the inhabitants of Asia, 
though formerly their labors had been confined 
to this region, was, doubtless, that the gospel 
might be introduced into Greece, hence into Eu- 
rope. After they came to Mysia, they intended 
to go into Bythinia, a province of Asia Minor, 
but were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to do so, 
therefore they came to Troas a city on the Hel- 
lespont. Sometimes the name Troas or Troad is 
used to denote the entire country of the Trojans, 
the province where the ancient city of Troy had 
stood, a region celebrated in early Grecian his- 
tory, and where the events recorded in the Iliad 
are supposed to have occurred. The city was de- 
stroyed and no vestige of it remains. Paul be- 
ing an educated man, was doubtless familiar with 



216 BIBLE CHARACTERS, 

classical literature, and to him the places he was 
about to visit, would be specially interesting. 

The Greek name for Troy was Ilium, which 
stood on a large plain surrounded by mountains, 
one being named Mount Ida. The city was de- 
stroyed by the Greeks, but was rebuilt and called 
Ilium Novum, which finally came under the 
dominion of the Romans when they became mas- 
ters of the world. When Paul was at Troas he 
had a vision in which appeared a man who, per- 
haps by his speech, was taken for a Macedonian, 
saying, " Come to Macedonia and help us." 
This was a call to preach the gospel in a new 
field which might be attended with great hard- 
ship and danger. Macedonia was an extensive 
region with Thrace on the north, Thessaly on the 
south, Epirus on the west and the ^Egean Sea on 
the east. It became celebrated in the reign of 
Philip and his son Alexander the Great. It was 
the first place in which the gospel was preached 
in Europe. 

Setting sail from Troas, we, says the writer, 
came in a direct course to Samothracia, an island 
in the ^Egean Sea about twenty miles in circum- 
ference, and an asylum for fugitives and crimi- 
nals, and the next day to Neapolis a maritime 
city of Macedonia. This is the first instance in 
which Luke refers to himself as being in company 
with Paul. It is probable that he joined him 




Paul Preaching to the Thessalonians. 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 217 

about this time, and attended him in his future 
travels. They journeyed from Neapolis to 
Philippi named by King Philip, and famous for 
being the place where several battles were 
fought during the civil wars of the Romans, and 
especially the decisive battle between Brutus and 
Antony. There was a Christian church estab- 
lished here, to which Paul afterward wrote his 
Epistle to the Philippians. Paul and his com- 
panions remained there for several days. There 
were Jews in this city as in most others, who 
still observed many of their religious ceremonies. 
On the Sabbath, they went out of the city to the 
side of the river where there was a place of 
prayer. Such places were established by the 
Jews in the vicinity of towns and cities, es- 
pecially where they were forbidden by the mag- 
istrates to build synagogues. These places of 
prayer were simply enclosures constructed of 
stones, in a grove or under a tree. 

The missionaries sat down and addressed the 
women who resorted thither. Among them was 
a certain woman named Lydia, whose business 
consisted in selling purple dyes obtained from 
shellfish, and was highly prized on account of 
the color which was chiefly worn by princes and 
the wealthy classes. This dye w^as obtained from 
Thyatira a city in the province of Lydia in Asia 
Minor. The art of dyeing was a prominent oc- 



218 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

cupation in that city, settled by a colony from 
Macedonia. It was the seat of one of the seven 
churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. 
In the message to the churches the faith, pa- 
tience, and charity of the members of this church 
are commended, but they are censured for toler- 
ating the false prophetess, Jezebel, who encour- 
aged gross vices for which fearful judgments are 
threatened. 

Lydia was probably a Jewish proselyte who 
had studied the Scriptures, and when she heard 
Paul, she believed the gospel and was baptized 
together with the members of her family who 
also accepted it. After this ceremony was per- 
formed, she said to Paul and Silas, " If ye con- 
sider me a believer, come to my house and abide 
there while you remain in the city." " On a 
certain day," says the writer, "as we were going 
to the place of prayer, a damsel possessed with 
the spirit of divination," according to pagan 
ideas, "who, by her soothsaying brought her 
masters much gain, followed us publicly pro- 
claiming, ' These men are the servants of the 
Most High God, and show us the way to salva- 
tion.' " Her motive in pursuing such a course is 
not certain. It may have been to gain a reward 
from Paul and Silas, or some other selfish reason, 
but it is more probable that she was convinced 
that they were the servants of God. She fol- 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 219 

lowed them for several days when Paul, grieved 
at the annoyance, and believing she was under 
the influence of an evil spirit, turned around and 
said, " I command thee in the name of Jesus 
Christ to come out of her," when the demon im- 
mediately left the damsel. 

When her masters saw the hope of their gains 
was gone, they were very angry and determined 
to seek revenge. They seized Paul and Silas and 
forcibly brought them to the market-place where 
was the court or forum, near which trials were 
conducted, and delivered them to the magistrates, 
military rulers or pretors. As Philippi was a 
Roman colony, perhaps the army officers per- 
formed the duties of both civil and military 
rulers. When their enemies brought them to the 
magistrates, they presented their charges which 
were not the loss of their gains, but they pre- 
tended they were anxious about the violation of 
the laws and the safety of the city, hence they 
were disturbers of the public peace. They said, 
" These men who are Jews exceedingly trouble 
our city, and teach customs not lawful for us to 
observe, being Romans." By " customs," in this 
charge, is intended religious rites or forms of 
worship. This aroused the people, when the 
magistrates stripped Paul and Silas of their gar- 
ments, which was always done when one was to 
be scourged, and delivered them to the lictors, to 



220 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

be beaten with rods. And when they had laid 
many stripes on them, they cast them into prison, 
charging the jailor to keep them safely, who, 
having received such a charge, put them into the 
safest celts and made their feet secure in the 
stocks. After such severe scourging, their con- 
dition must have caused them great suffering, yet 
at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang 
praises to God, and were heard by the other 
prisoners. While, they were engaged in these de- 
votional exercises, a mysterious phenomenon oc- 
curred. 

As they were engaged in prayer and singing, 
an earthquake suddenly shook the foundations of 
the prison, when all the doors were opened, and 
the chains of the prisoners were loosed, thus 
liberating them, so that it was possible for them 
to escape, yet no one made the attempt. When 
the keeper of the prison awoke from sleep by this 
strange occurrence, seeing the prison doors were 
open, he supposed the inmates had escaped, and 
alarmed, he drew his sword intending to take his 
own life. It was customary to hold the jailer 
responsible for the safe keeping of the prisoners, 
and to subject him to the same punishment due 
to them if he suffered them to escape. Suicide 
was approved among the Greeks and Romans in 
case of emergency, as Cato, Brutus, and Cassius, ' 
besides others, are examples, 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 221 

When Paul saw what the jailer was about to 
do, he exclaimed in a loud voice, " Do thyself no 
harm, for we are all here." The keeper called 
for lights, and alarmed at the earthquake, and 
surprised that the prisoners had not escaped, and 
that Paul and Silas were so calm, he came trem- 
bling and fell down at their feet as an act of pro- 
found reverence, then brought them out of 
prison, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be 
saved ? " The answer was simple, concise, and 
decisive. " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and 
thou shalt be saved," and the same blessing 
would be granted to the members of his family 
who believed. Paul and Silas preached the word 
of -the Lord to the household of the jailer, who 
bathed their wounds inflicted by scourging, and 
the same night, was baptized, together with the 
members of his family who believed. When the 
jailer had brought them to his house, he gave 
them food to eat. 

The next morning, the magistrates, perhaps 
terrified by the earthquake, an event regarded 
by heathen nations as an omen denoting the pres- 
ence of their divinities, or they might have felt 
that they did wrong in sending Paul and Silas to 
prison without a trial, sent the Serjeants, or pub- 
lic officers who went before the magistrates with 
the emblems of authority to release the prison- 
ers. In Rome, they bore what Avas called fasces 



222 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

consisting of a bundle of rods with an axe in the 
centre. When the keeper of the prison received 
the orders of the magistrates he informed Paul, 
saying, " Now therefore depart, and go in peace," 
but the apostle replied, " They have beaten us 
openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have 
cast us into prison. Now do they thrust us out 
privately ? Not so ; let them come themselves 
and bring us out." Paul and Silas were Jews by 
birth, but they had been made Roman citizens, 
therefore entitled to the privileges of such. It 
was expressly forbidden that a Roman citizen 
should be scourged. " No," said Paul, decidedly, 
"the magistrates should come themselves and 
bring us out of prison." When the Serjeants re- 
peated the words of Paul to the magistrates, they 
were alarmed when they learned that the prison- 
ers were Roman citizens. They came and urged 
them to depart out of their city. The liberated 
prisoners went to the house of Lydia, and meet- 
ing the brethren, they encouraged them ; and 
then departed from Philippi, that is Paul and 
Silas left but, probably, Luke and Timothy re- 
mained or sought some other field of labor. — The 
church at Philippi, founded 52 a. d., was regarded 
with special favor by the apostle. 

The Christians at this place were grateful for 
the gospel they received through Paul's labors, 
and on several occasions sent him aid while he 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 

was in Achaia, and wrheii he was a prisoner at 

Koine. Epaphroditus was sent by the church at 
Philippi as a messenger to take contributions to 
Paul, while a prisoner at B .nd to render 

him needed service. H ormed his duti 

with such zeal that his health was impaired, and 
was obliged to remain some time, but the 
next year. 62 a. d.. Epaphroditus returned to 
Philippi. for the Christians the tly 

troubled when they heard of his illness. Paul's 
Epistle to the Philippians was written when he 
was a prisoner at Pome. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

NEW FIELDS OF LABOR. 

After Paul and Silas left Philippi, they went 
to Thessalonica, a seaport of Macedonia and in- 
habited by Greeks, Romans and Jews. In their 
journey, they passed through Amphipolis, mean- 
ing around the city, colonized by the Athenians, 
and made the capital of eastern Macedonia by 
the Romans, thence to Apollonia, formerly 
much celebrated for its trade. When they ar- 
rived at Thessalonica, Paul, as was his custom, 
attended worship in the synagogue of the Jews, 
and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from 
the Scriptures, explaining and maintaining the 
doctrine that it was necessary Christ should suf- 
fer death, and rise again, and that Jesus was the 
Messiah, according to the Scriptures, for He was 
born in Bethlehem, as predicted, was of the tribe 
of Judah, a descendant of the royal line of David, 
that He came at the time predicted, that His 
miracles^ proved He was the Christ, and that His 
resurrection confirmed this doctrine. 

Some of the apostle's hearers believed, includ- 
ing Greek proselytes, and women of rank and in- 
fluence. 

224 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 225 

The successful labors of the evangelists 
aroused their old enemy, the unbelieving Jews 
who, influenced by envy, collected a mob of idle, 
dissipated, and worthless fellows loitering about 
the market-place or forum, and caused a great 
commotion in the city. Jason, a relative of Paul, 
had entertained him and Silas at his house, there- 
fore the mob made an assault with the design of 
arresting them, but failing in their scheme, they 
seized Jason and certain others, and forcibly con- 
ducted them to the rulers. They accused Paul 
and Silas of " Turning the world upside down," 
while Jason, they said, " had received these dis- 
turbers of the public peace, whose deeds are op- 
posed to the decrees of Caesar, since they affirm 
there is another king called Jesus." 

The rulers feared the result of mob rule, and 
the people feared the Komans, when they heard 
the charges brought against Paul and Silas. 
Jason offered security for the good conduct of 
the apostle and his companion, when the brethren 
sent them directly to Berea by night. The gos- 
pel, however, had taken root in Thessalonica, and 
Paul subsequently addressed two epistles to the 
church in that city. 

After leaving that place, these missionaries came 
to Berea, a city of Macedonia, and, according to 
their custom, began their labors among their own 
countrymen. The Bereans, it is said, were more 



226 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

generous, liberal, and more disposed to examine 
candidly, the doctrines of the apostle, and 
searched the Scriptures daily to see if they were 
true, than the people of Thessalonica. Many of 
them including women of rank and influence be- 
lieved, but when the Jews of Thessalonica heard 
that Paul was preaching at Berea,they came to 
the city and tried to arouse the public against 
him, as they had previously done. This might 
endanger the life of the apostle, therefore the 
Christians took him to the seacoast and sent him 
by ship to Athens, but Silas and Timothy re- 
mained at Berea. 

This was Paul's first visit to this celebrated 
city of Greece, but his success as a preacher of 
the gospel there, was not great, though some of 
the Athenians believed, including Dionysius, the 
Areopagite, or one connected w T ith the court of 
that name, perhaps as one of the judges, and a 
woman named Damaris, probably a person of in- 
fluence, and some others. 

Athens, one of the most celebrated cities of 
antiquity, was distinguished for its political and 
military power, for the learning, eloquence, and 
accomplished manners of its citizens, and for its 
works in art and science. The ancient city was 
surrounded by walls of great strength and width. 
Theseus united the twelve independent states of 
Attica in one and made Athens the capital. 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 227 

The city was burned by Xerxes the Persian, 480 
B. c, but was rebuilt by Pericles 460-429, B. c, 
in whose time it reached its greatest splendor. 
It depended chiefly upon the public buildings for 
its architectural renown. The Acropolis con- 
tained works that were the pride of the Athe- 
nians, comprising paintings, sculptures, and other 
works of art. 

The Parthenon contained the temple of Mi- 
nerva, a building 217 feet in length and 98 in 
breadth, which was destroyed by the Persians 
but rebuilt by Pericles with greater splendor 
than the first building. It contained the statue 
of Minerva, the work of Phidias, made of ivory, 
thirty-nine feet in height, and covered with pure 
gold. Without the walls of the city were tem- 
ples dedicated to the gods, but the one called the 
Temple of Jupiter Olympus surpassed every other 
building of Athens, in magnificence. About the 
exterior were one hundred and twenty fluted 
columns sixty feet in height, and with its courts, 
it covered half a mile in circumference. 

The Acropolis was a steep rock in the centre 
of the city, about 150 feet high, 1,150 feet long 
* and 500 broad, while its summit was covered 
with temples, statues, and other works of art, but 
one of the most distinguished buildings, next to 
the Temple of Jupiter Olympus, perhaps, was the 
Parthenon. North of this was the Erechtheum, 



228 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

containing three separate temples, and near these 
buildings was the colossal statue of Athene or 
Minerva, whose helmet and spear were the first 
objects visible from the sea. The walls of ancient 
Athens enclosed a larger space than the modern 
city. 

The hills, including Mars' Hill, which gave the 
name to the celebrated court that assembled 
there, the Hill of the Nymphs, and the Pnyx, 
where, in early times, popular assemblies were 
held, but later at the Theatre of Bacchus. Temples 
were dedicated to Mars, Juno, and a large number 
of other gods. Among other noted buildings were 
the Senate House, the Tholus, where Spartan 
heroes offered their sacrifices, the Stoae, or halls 
supported by columns and used as places of resort 
in the heat of the day. There were three build- 
ings or theatres for contests in vocal and instru- 
mental music. The monument of Andronicus, 
called also the " Tower of the Winds," and the 
monument sometimes erroneously called the 
" Lantern of Demosthenes," are said to be still 
in existence. The Academia was an institution 
of the ancient city, and the tombs of the Athe- 
nians killed in battle, were in a suburb northwest 
of the town. 

After the Roman conquest, Athens became a 
flourishing city, and during the early centuries of 
the Christian era, it was one of the chief seats of 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 229 

learning to which the Romans were accustomed 
to send their sons to complete their education. 
This remarkable city has suffered from the 
calamities of war, and has several times been 
captured, destroyed, and rebuilt. The last con- 
quest was by the Turks in the early period of the 
nineteenth century, but it has since been recovered 
by the Greeks, and the gospel has been introduced 
by missionaries since the visit of Paul, many 
centuries ago. 

The apostle, while at Athens, sent for Silas 
and Timothy, who were at Berea, to come as soon 
as possible, and while waiting for them, he had 
an opportunity to observe the moral condition of 
its citizens, who were grossly devoted to the 
worship of false gods, a fact confirmed by co- 
temporary historians. The temples, altars, and 
idols were so numerous, that it was said, " It was 
easier to find a god than a man." 

Paul, the man of culture, who, doubtless, knew 
something of Greek art and learning, while wait- 
ing for his companions, was more affected by the 
idolatry of the inhabitants than by the splendor 
and magnificence of the city, therefore he rea- 
soned with any one who would listen to him, 
including Jews, devout persons, or Jewish pros- 
elytes, and with those he met in the market- 
place or forum. Athens was distinguished above 
all other cities, for its philosophers, therefore 



230 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

there were various schools or sects, including the 
Epicureans named for Epicurus, who lived about 
300 B. c. They denied that God created the 
world, or that the gods had any interest in 
human affairs; neither did they believe in the 
immortality of the soul. One of their prominent 
doctrines was that pleasure was the chief good, 
and that virtue was to be practiced only as it 
contributed to this end, but Epicurus intended 
only rational pleasure controlled by common 
sense. His followers, however, sought happiness 
in sensuality and other corrupt practices. 

The Stoics were a sect of philosophers named 
from Stoa, the Greek for porch or portico, because 
Zeno, the founder of the sect, taught in a porch 
at Athens. He was a native of Cyprus, but 
taught in this city forty-eight years, and died 264 
B. c, at the age of ninety-six years. The Stoics be- 
lieved that God was the Creator of the universe, 
that all things were settled by the Fates, and that 
God even was under their dominion ; that happi- 
ness consisted in the insensibility of the soul to 
pain, and that man should gain absolute mastery 
over all the passions and affections of his nature, 
and that matter was eternal. There was, how- 
ever, a want of uniformity of belief among their 
members. They were strict in their views of 
virtue, and were boastful of their own right- 
eousness. 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 231 

Some of the philosophers of the Epicureans and 
the Stoics contended with Paul, and said with a 
sneer, "What will this babbler say?" Others* 
affirmed that he taught the existence of strange 
gods, because he preached of Jesus and the resur- 
rection. They conducted Paul to Areopagus or 
Mars' Hill, where the supreme judges of Athens 
assembled, saying, " May we know what this new 
doctrine of which thou speakest is?" Their 
object appears to have been, not to try him, but 
to understand more fully the doctrines he taught ; 
they were willing to hear before they passed 
judgment. Athens, it has been shown, was dis- 
tinguished for its schools of philosophy, its art 
and learning, and was the resort of people from 
other countries who desired to become acquainted 
with its institutions and listen to its sages. " The 
Athenians and strangers," it is said, "spent all 
their time in hearing and telling something 
new." This habit is mentioned by several an- 
cient writers, and it is stated there were more 
than three hundred public places in the city, 
where the people were accustomed to meet for 
conversation and inquiry. 

It was inthe presence of the philosophers and 
learned men of Athens, who regarded him with 
contempt and called him a "babbler," that Paul 
was to preach the gospel. His personal appear- 
ance and nationality would not be favorable to 



232 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

his success, yet he did not hesitate to perform 
what he considered his duty. Paul advanced, 
and, standing in the court of the Areopagites, he 
explained the doctrines he had proclaimed, only 
an outline of which, probably, the sacred writer 
has afforded, but sufficient to give an idea of the 
manner he adopted with the Greek philosophers. 
The speaker was calm, serious, and respectful in 
his argument, and understood the character of his 
audience. He began, " Ye men of Athens, I per- 
ceive you have a great reverence for the gods, for 
as I passed by and beheld your altars, I saw one 
with the inscription, ' To the unknown God.' 
Him whom ye worship ignorantly, I make known 
to you." It was customary in heathen lands to 
erect altars to unknown divinities. 

The main object of the apostle's discourse was 
to convince his hearers of the folly and sin of 
idolatry, and the necessity of repentance. He 
said, " God, the Creator of all things and Lord of 
the heavens and the earth, does not dwell in 
temples constructed by human hands, neither is 
He sustained by any offerings presented to Him, 
since He is the source of life to every living 
creature, and has made all nations of one blood," 
that is, they all descended from the same ances- 
tor, however different in complexion, features, 
language, etc., therefore, in a broad sense, they 
were all brethren ; that God had designated their 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 233 

future abodes, referring to the dispersion of the 
race, that they should seek the Lord when they be- 
hold His wonderful works, for, said the speaker, 
" it is by Him we live, and are His offspring, as 
certain of your poets have said." This is an evi- 
dence that Paul was acquainted with Greek 
literature, and shows his skill in addressing his 
audience. The conclusion was, that if we are 
the children of God, it is absurd to suppose He 
can be represented by images made of gold, 
silver, stone, or any other material, by the hand 
of man. 

Paul affirmed that during the long period be- 
fore the introduction of the gospel, the Creator 
exercised great forbearance toward idolatrous 
nations, but now He commancleth all persons 
everywhere to repent, for He hath appointed a 
day in which He will judge the world in right- 
eousness, by the One " whom He hath raised 
from the dead." 

When they heard of the resurrection, some of 
the philosophers derided him, while others said, 
"We will hear thee again about this matter." 
None of the Greeks, except a few, accepted 
Paul's doctrines, and he soon left Athens, with- 
out establishing a church. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

NEW FIELDS OF LABOR — CONCLUDED. 

As the apostle found Athens a barren field 
for Christian labor, and believed there was no 
prospect of success, he left for Corinth, a popu- 
lous and wealthy city, but one of the most luxu- 
rious and dissolute, yet he was successful in found- 
ing a church there, to which he subsequently ad- 
dressed two epistles. A brief description of this 
ancient city is as follows : 

It was situated on the isthmus which separates 
the Peloponnesus from Attica, and on account of 
its position, was of great commercial importance ; 
this advantage contributed to the wealth and 
luxury of the citizens. It was built on the north 
side of Mt. Acro-Corinthus, which is 1,900 feet in 
height and between 600 and 700 feet in circum- 
ference. This Mount served as the citadel of 
Corinth, which has two harbors, one on the east 
side and one on the west side. In early times its 
great commercial importance was maintained by 
a powerful navy, and here were built the first 
triremes— vessels or galleys, with three benches 
of oars on one side, — and the first sea-fight on 

234 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 235 

record, is said to have been fought between the 
Corinthians and the Corcyraens. At an early 
period, Corinth established colonies in various 
regions. — The city was adorned with magnificent 
buildings, and in no other Grecian town, except 
Athens, were the fine arts advanced with such 
vigor and success. Corinth rose in magnitude 
and grandeur, while its temples, palaces, theatres, 
and other public buildings, adorned with columns 
and statues, were the pride of its inhabitants and 
the admiration of strangers. The or.der or style 
of architecture designated " The Corinthian," dis- 
tinguished for its ornate column, originated in 
this city. Some of its celebrated works of art 
were the citadel, the grottoes over the Fountain 
Pyrene, constructed of white marble and sacred 
to the Muses, the theatre and stadium of the 
same material, the Temple of Neptune with the 
chariots of that deity, and also that of his wife, 
Amphitrite, drawn by horses covered with gold. 
The avenue leading to the Temple of Neptune 
was decorated on one side with the statues of 
those who were successful at the Isthmian games, 
and on the other side with rows of tall pines. 

The Isthmian ' games were one of the great 
national festivities of Greece, celebrated on the 
Isthmus of Corinth in April or May every al- 
ternate year. They consisted of all kinds of 
athletic sports, and also contests in music and 



236 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

poetry. The prize was a simple garland of pine 
leaves. 

Corinth was celebrated for its learning and was 
called by Cicero, "The Light of all Greece." It 
contained schools in which philosophy and rhetoric 
were publicly taught, therefore strangers from 
other countries came thither to complete their 
education. It was said as a commendation, that 
"It does not fall to the lot of every one to visit 
Corinth," but the fame of this celebrated city was 
fearfully dishonored by the immorality of its in- 
habitants. The worship of Venus prevailed, and 
a large number of her votaries were maintained 
in her temple. Such was the condition of this 
distinguished city, when Paul introduced the gos- 
pel, about 52 a. D., and continued to labor there 
nearly two years. He gained many converts, or- 
ganized a Christian church to which, subse- 
quently, he wrote two epistles, the first written 
at Ephesus, in which he reproves the Corinthian 
disciples for their unchristian conduct. The ad- 
monition led them to reform. His second epistle 
was sent to them from Macedonia. Paul made a 
second visit to Corinth and remained three 
months, and then left for Jerusalem, but before 
his departure, he wrote his Epistle to the Romans. 

The form of government in ancient Corinth 
varied from monarchy to oligarchy, then to aris- 
tocracy, but it maintained its independence until 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 237 

the Macedonian supremacy, when its citadel was 
garrisoned by Macedonian troops that were ex- 
pelled, however, when Corinth joined the Achaean 
League. It was taken by Mummius, the Eoman 
consul, the inhabitants were sold as slaves, its 
works of art destroyed or conveyed to Rome, its 
buildings demolished, and for a century, it lay in 
ruins, except the buildings on the Acropolis and 
a few temples. In 46 B. c, it was rebuilt by 
Caesar, who established there a colony of veterans 
and descendants of freedmen. It became the 
capital of the Roman provinces of Achaia and 
recovered its former prosperity, but the inhabit- 
ants still pursued their profligate habits, as faul 
intimates in his epistles to them. 

The only remains of the ancient city are sev- 
eral Doric columns. Since the beginning of the 
Christian era, Corinth has been plundered, 
burned, and nearly destroyed by an earthquake. 

After Paul arrived at Corinth, he found a 
Christian Jew, named Aquila, a native of Pontus 
in Asia, whose wife was Priscilla. The apostle 
made his home at their house for a time, and 
worked at his trade of tent-making, the same as 
that of his host. Claudius, the Roman emperor, 
had banished all Jews from Rome, suspecting 
them, justly or unjustly, of inciting insurrections, 
therefore dangerous to the safety of the city. 
Aquila, probably, did not consider it safe to re- 



238 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

main in Italy, therefore he came to Corinth. For 
some reason, Paul left the house of Aquila and 
lodged with Justus, living near the Jewish syna- 
gogue, who was a convert from paganism. It 
has been supposed that the apostle changed his 
lodgings that he might have more influence with 
the Gentiles. 

When Paul left Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla 
accompanied him as far as Ephesus, on his way 
to Jerusalem. They afterward returned to 
Rome, and in his Epistle to the Romans, the 
apostle sent his salutations to them, whom he 
calls his " helpers in Christ Jesus." He also 
mentions Aquila in his second Epistle to Tim- 
othy. 

Paul had been educated as a doctor of law, by 
Gamaliel, yet he was taught a mechanic's trade, 
that of tent-making. Tents in oriental countries 
were very necessary, therefore the occupation of 
making them might have been profitable. Though 
Paul labored at his trade during the week, his 
Sabbaths were spent in the synagogues where he 
proclaimed the gospel to Jews and Gentiles. 

He had previously sent for Silas and Timothy, 
whom he had left at Berea, and after they ar- 
rived at Corinth, their presence inspired him 
with new courage, when he felt constrained to 
testify to the Jews, that Jesus was Christ. When 
they opposed him even with blasphemy, the 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 239 

apostle shook bis raiment, a sign that he would 
henceforth have nothing more to do with them, 
and said, " Your blood be upon yo'ur own heads ; 
I am not to blame for your destruction. Hence- 
forth I go to the Gentiles." There were, how- 
ever, some of his countrymen who believed, in- 
cluding Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, 
and his family. Many of the Corinthians be- 
lieved and were baptized. It is possible that 
Paul felt his insignificance when he saw the 
splendor of Corinth and the wealth and culture of 
its citizens, and on this account was embarrassed 
in view of his duty to address them, therefore he 
had a vision in the night when the Lord spake to 
him, saying, " Be not afraid, but speak, for I am 
with thee, and no one shall harm thee. I have 
many true friends in this city." It was not the 
custom of the apostle to tarry a long time in the 
same city, though he remained at Ephesus three 
years, yet he labored in Corinth one year and six 
months, during which he founded a church. He 
was not, however, permitted to pursue his Chris- 
tian labors without persecution, for his persistent 
enemy, the Jews, caused an insurrection, seized 
Paul and forcibly conducted him to the judgment 
seat intending to arraign him as a disturber of 
the public peace. Their charge was, " This fel- 
low persuadeth men to worship God contrary to 
the law." Gallio was the Roman deputy of 



240 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

Achaia at this time. After the Roman conquest, 
Greece was divided into two provinces, namely, 
Macedonia and Achaia, which were governed 
by pro-consuls. Gallio, the pro-consul, or deputy 
of Achaia, A. D. 53, was the brother of Seneca, 
the celebrated philosopher. His original name 
was Marcus A. Novatus, but when adopted by 
Gallio a rhetorician, he took his name. He is 
represented by ancient writers as remarkably 
mild and amiable in disposition. 

The Jews aroused the people as they had on 
former occasions at Antioch, Philippi, and other 
places, when Paul was seized and brought to the 
tribunal of Gallio, charged with the offence of 
persuading men to worship God contrary to the 
law of both Jews and Romans. When Paul was 
about to make his defence, Gallio settled the 
question in a brief and decisive manner. He 
said, " If it was a matter of injustice and crime, 
O Jews, I would listen to you, but if it is one of 
words and names only, I will be no judge of such 
matters." Then he commanded them to depart 
from the court, when the Greeks who had wit- 
nessed the persecutions of Paul by the Jews, took 
Sosthenes the chief ruler of the synagogue, and 
beat him before the judgment-seat, but Gallio 
did not interfere to prevent it. He may have 
thought the ruler of the synagogue deserved his 
punishment or he may have regarded the Jews 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOB. 241 

with contempt. It has been the practice of using 
the name of Gallio unjustly, as a synonym for all 
thoughtless and indifferent conduct on the sub- 
ject of religion. In regard to the chief ruler of 
the synagogue, who was beaten, he may have be- 
come a convert to Christianity, since Paul, in his 
Epistle to the Corinthians, speaks of " Sosthenes 
our brother." 

After the incident about Gallio, Paul remained 
some time at Corinth, then bade adieu to the 
brethren and embarked on board a ship for Syria, 
with Aquila and Priscilla, his design being to go 
to Jerusalem to attend a festival, which may 
have been the Passover. Paul being a Jew, ob- 
served the customs of his nation, even after his 
conversion, when they were not opposed to his 
Christian belief. He had made a vow or solemn 
promise to God, the nature of which is not men- 
tioned, and when he arrived at Cenchrea, the 
eastern part of Corinth, he had his hair cut, at 
the expiration of the vow. Now were com- 
mon among the Jews, the most remarkable being 
the vow of the Nazarite, when all intoxicating 
liquors must be avoided, the hair must be left to 
grow, a house must not be entered containing a 
corpse, nor a funeral attended. The time for 
the expiration of the vow varied from eight 
days to the end of one's life. When the time 
ended, the priest offered sacrifices and then the 



242 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

head of the Nazarite was shaved at the door of 
the Tabernacle, and the hair was burned on the 
altar. 

When Paul arrived at Ephesus, he went into 
the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews w T ho 
were numerous in the city, and had been granted 
the privilege of citizenship. His visit was brief, 
and when the disciples urged him to remain 
longer, he declined, saying/ 44 He must keep the 
festival at Jerusalem, but if it w^as the will of 
God, he would retftrn to them." This he did 
and remained three years preaching the gospel. 
After bidding the disciples farewell, he sailed 
from Ephesus, leaving Aquila and Priscilla. 

Ephesus was a celebrated city in the province 
of Lydia, Asia Minor, about five miles from the 
sea. It was famous for the Temple of Diana to 
whom the Ephesians paid great reverence. It 
was built outside the walls of the city, and was 
considered one of the " Wonders of the world." 
It was greatly damaged by an earthquake in the 
reign of the Emperor Tiberias, who repaired and 
adorned it so that it was styled " The Ornament 
of Asia." Some of the other public buildings 
were the theatre, gymnasia, and Temple of 
Jupiter. Ephesus came under the control of dif- 
ferent rulers, as Croesus, the Persians, Mace- 
donians, Komans, and Moslems. It was highly 
favored by the Greeks, and considered the most 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 243 

important city in Asia Minor, by the Romans, 
but no relics of its former greatness remain. 
The Ephesians are supposed to have invented the 
mystical spells and charms by which they pre- % 
tended to cure diseases and drive away evil spirits. 

Paul founded a Christian church in Ephesus to 
which he addressed one of his epistles, and here 
the Apostle John and Timothy labored. It was 
one of the Seven Churches addressed in the 
Book of Revelation, in which* the writer com- 
mended the members for their works, but accuses 
them of having left their first love, and threatens 
the removal of their candlestick from its place 
unless they repented, a prophecy that has been 
fulfilled. 

The candlestick or lamp was used as a figure 
of speech, and was the emblem of the Seven 
Christian churches of Asia. The one made in 
the time of Moses was of pure gold, and was kept 
in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. It had 
seven branches, one placed in the centre, and 
three on each side of the centre one. In the 
Temple of Solomon, there were ten gold candle- 
sticks or lamps, supplied -morning and evening 
with pure olive oil. The golden candlestick with 
other articles, was taken by the Romans from 
the Temple at the conquest of Jerusalem and 
placed by Vespasian in a temple dedicated to 
Peace. 



CHAPTER XX. 

MISSIONARY EXCURSIONS. 

Paul, after leaving Ephesus, sailed for Cesarea 
where he landed to salute the brethren, as an ex- 
pression of his regard and affection for them. 
Thence he went to Antioch in Syria. Cesarea 
was a name given to several cities of the Roman 
Empire. The one referred to in this place was 
surrounded by a wall and contained magnificent 
buildings erected by Herod the Great. It was 
situated on the coast of the Mediterranean about 
sixty-two miles northw r est of Jerusalem, and was 
named in honor of Augustus Caesar, to whom a 
temple was dedicated, in which w T as placed a 
statue of the Roman emperor ; the city became 
the seat of the governor w r hile Judea was a Ro- 
man province. Within the space of ten years 
after the foundation was laid, Cesarea became 
the most flourishing city in Syria, but at the 
present day it is in ruins, with scarcely a trace 
of its former magnificence. Its inhabitants, 
palaces, temples, and works of art, have all dis- 
appeared. 

The apostle spent some time at Antioch, when 

244 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 245 

he revisited Galatia, and Phrygia, provinces in 
Asia Minor, for the purpose of encouraging the 
disciples and confirming them in the Christian 
doctrines. They were converts from paganism, 
and perhaps, encouragement amid the dangers to 
which they were exposed, was timely and nec- 
essary. 

Apollos, a contemporary of Paul, and a Chris- 
tian laborer, was a Jew, born in Alexandria, 
Egypt, where there were many of his country- 
men. This city was founded by Alexander the 
Great, and was celebrated for its schools of learn- 
ing, and it is probable that Apollos enjoyed their 
advantages for an education. He was well in- 
structed by his kindred, in the Old Testament, 
especially about the advent of the Messiah whom 
the Jews were expecting would soon appear. 
Being zealous and ardent, he boldly proclaimed 
his views in the synagogue at Ephesus. When 
Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they perceived 
that he needed clearer and more definite ideas on 
the subject, therefore they instructed him more 
perfectly, by proving that the Messiah had al- 
ready come in the person of Jesus. 

Apollos decided to go to Achaia, when the 
brethren at Ephesus gave him a letter of intro- 
duction to the Christians in that region. Many 
of the Greeks were captivated by his eloquence, 
find the Jews were silenoed by his strong argu- 



246 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

merits, proving from their Scriptures, that Jesus 
of Nazareth was the Messiah predicted by the 
prophets. 

It is supposed his great popularity tended to 
cause a schism in the Christian church, since 
Paul, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, alludes to 
such an event. " It is reported," says the apostle, 
" that some of the disciples say ' I am of Paul,' 
some, ' I am of Apollos,' and others, ' I am of 
Cephas.' " He then reproves them and says, " Who 
is Paul, and who Apollos, but ministers by whom 
ye believe? I have planted, Apollos watered, 
but God gave the increase. He that planted, 
and he that watered are one." 

Paul and Apollos were not separated, but 
labored together in the same cause, on friendly 
terms. 

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having 
travelled in his missionary tour through Phrygia 
and Galatia, called the upper regions, because they 
were situated on a high table-land in Asia Minor, 
came to Ephesus, according to his promise, and 
found there certain disciples who had embraced 
the doctrines of John the Baptist. The apostle 
inquired whether they had received the Holy 
Ghost, and they replied, " We have not heard 
whether there is any Holy Ghost." After some 
explanation by Paul, they were baptized in the 
name of the Lord Jesus, and when the apostle 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 247 

laid his hands upon them, their number being 
about twelve men, the Holy Spirit endowed them 
with the power of prophecy, and the gift of speak- 
ing foreign languages, as on the day of Pentecost. 
As was Paul's custom, he proclaimed the 
gospel to his own countrymen in their synagogue, 
for three months, but when many of them op- 
posed and misrepresented him, he separated the 
disciples from their influence, while he taught 
daily in the school or hall of Tyrannus for two 
years, so that all who dwelt in Asia Minor 
heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus, both Jews 
and Greeks. It is not known who Tyrannus 
was, but it is probable he was a Jew, and per- 
haps favorable to Christians. There were no 
church buildings at that time, and the disciples 
were obliged to assemble in any place convenient 
for public worship. Miracles were wrought by 
the apostle, so that handkerchiefs or napkins 
used by him, when brought to the sick or those 
possessed by evil spirits, were cured. The Jews 
generally believed in exorcism, or the power to, 
cure diseases and cast out demons, by means of 
charms, incantations, etc. A certain Jew called 
Sceva, a Greek name, and who belonged to the 
order of priests, had seven sons who claimed this 
power, and went from place to place, exercising 
their pretended authority. They commonly used 
the name of God in their enchantments. On a cer- 



248 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

tain occasion they attempted to cast out an evil 
spirit by saying, " We adjure you by Jesus whom 
Paul preaches." The answer came, "Jesus I 
know, and Paul I know ; but who are ye ? " The 
man possessed by the demon, sprang at them, 
tore off their garments, compelling them to 
escape naked and wounded. 

When this surprising incident was known to 
the Jews and the Greeks at Ephesus, they were 
astonished and afraid, and confessed their decep- 
tion in using magical arts, and brought their 
books or parchments explaining their incanta : 
tions, and publicly burned them, the cost being 
estimated at' 50,000 pieces of silver, the exact 
value of which is uncertain. If they referred to 
the Jewish shekel, they were equal to about 
$25,000, but if to Greek or Roman coin, they 
were far less. Since Ephesus was in a Roman 
province, it is probable the currency was Roman, 
therefore the loss to the magicians was between 
$8,000, and $9,000. However, it was a large 
sum for those magicians to sacrifice, and their 
act proved they were willing to confess their 
wrongdoings, publicly. This transaction greatly 
advanced the cause of Christianity in the cele- 
brated city of Ephesus, and showed to the 
heathen what an influence it had on its fol- 
lowers. 

After the gospel was firmly established at 




.'.■■„:. ■• • ," ,",. " "■'•'. : 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 249 

Ephesus, the apostle decided, that after he had 
travelled through Macedonia and Achaia again, 
he would go to Jerusalem to carry the contribu- 
tions of the Gentile churches to the poor Chris- 
tians in Judea. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus, a 
chataberlain or treasurer of Corinth, to Macedonia, 
perhaps for the purpose of making a collection 
for the needy saints at Jerusalem, but the apostle 
himself remained at Ephesus for a time, when a 
great public excitement occurred about the doc- 
trines taught by him. The tumult was caused 
by a certain silversmith named Demetrius, who 
made silver shrines for the goddess Diana. 

This was a profitable business for Demetrius 
and his craftsmen. These shrines were small 
portable temples, which may have contained a 
silver image of the goddess, therefore they would 
be purchased by worshippers, a great number of 
whom came to Ephesus to offer her their homage. 
The pagans were in the habit of carrying with 
them the representation of their gods as amulets 
or charms. Among the Romans, their household 
gods were called Penates. When Demetrius had 
called together the silversmiths, he addressed 
them in substance as follows : " Sirs, ye know 
that by this craft we gain our wealth, but you 
are aware that not only at Ephesus, but through- 
out A sia Minor, Paul has gained many followers, 
m& has affirmed that these images made by the 



250 BIBLE CHARACTERS, 

hand of man, are not gods. Moreover, the great 
goddess Diana, whom all the world worships, is 
despised, and her magnificent temple will be 
deserted. 1 ' 

This celebrated temple has been considered as 
one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 
It was built at the expense of all Asia Minor, and 
required two hundred and twenty years to com- 
plete it. The temple was reconstructed several 
times. It was, as formerly stated, four hundred 
and twenty -five feet in length, and two hundred 
and twenty feet in width, and was supported by 
one hundred and twenty-seven pillars of Parian 
marble, furnished by as many princes. It has 
been estimated that each pillar or column, in- 
cluding its base, contained one hundred and fifty 
tons of marble. The doors and pannelling were 
of cyprus wood, and the roof was of cedar, while 
the interior was decorated with gold and the 
most valuable works of ancient artists. The 
first Temple of Diana, at Ephesus, is said to have 
been completed in the reign of Servius Tullius, 
about 570 b. c. It was finally destroyed by the 
Goths, 260 A. D., but no vestige of it remains. 
Is it not possible that artisans, who constructed 
the Temple of Diana, borrowed some of their ideas 
from the Temple of Solomon, at Jerusalem ? 

When Demetrius had closed his appeal to the 
citizens, they were very angry, probably at the 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 251 

prospect of losing their gains, and shouted for 
two hours, " Great is Diana of the Ephesians," 
causing a great commotion throughout the city. 
The excited Ephesians seized Gaius and Aristar- 
chus, companions of Paul, and rushed with their 
prisoners into the theatre, a place not only for 
public exhibitions, but also for holding assem- 
blies, elections, and courts, with the intention of 
having the matter settled. Paul intended to 
follow the excited mob, probably to defend his 
own cause, but he was advised by certain friends 
not to venture into the theatre, for if he did, his 
life might be in danger. These friends, denomi- 
nated chiefs of Asia, were men presiding over 
religious services, and public games, and whose 
duty it was to see that due honor was rendered 
to the Roman emperor. They held a common 
council in the principal city of the provinces, for 
consultation, and, probably, they were assembled 
at Ephesus when the exciting events just men- 
tioned occurred. They, perhaps, had listened to 
Paul's preaching and were friendly to him, though 
there is no positive evidence that they were 
Christian converts. We have in this account a 
correct representation of a mob collected for a 
purpose they did not understand, as some shouted 
one thing, and some another, but all were swayed 
by their passions, so that the chiefs of Asia, or 
the assembly, were confused, and most of them did 



252 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

not understand why they had been called together. 
Some of the crowd, assisted by the Jews, laid 
hold of Alexander, one of their countrymen, and 
bringing him to the front, desired him to defend 
them against the suspicion that they were the 
originators of the tumult. The native citizens, 
when thev learned that he was a Jew, with one 
voice, that is unitedly, shouted for two hours, 
" Great is Diana of the Ephesians." 

"When the town-clerk, or secretary, had quieted 
the tumult, he addressed the crowd, saying, " Ye 
men of Ephesus, who does not know that the peo- 
ple of this city are devout worshippers of the 
great goddess Diana, whose statue was sent down 
by Jupiter ? Since no one can question the zeal 
of the Ephesians, ye ought to be quiet, and do 
nothing rashly, for there is no occasion for a dis- 
orderly riot. Demetrius and his -associates have 
brought here these men, who are neither robbers 
of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. 
Wherefore, if Demetrius and his craftsmen have 
any complaint for injustice or injury done them, 
let the matter be brought before the deputies, or 
Roman procurators, where they can plead their 
own cause, and if you wish to settle other matters 
respecting public affairs, such as relate to the 
worship of Diana, it will be proper to bring them 
before a lawful assembly. We are in danger of 
being called to account by the Roman govern- 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 253 

ment for this day's uproar, there being no just 
cause for it," and having thus spoken, he dismissed 
the assembly. The Romans avoided popular com- 
motions, and they made it a capital offence to 
raise a mob. 

After the tumult, excited by Demetrius, and 
the workmen had been quieted by the town- 
clerk, Paul called together the disciples to .com- 
fort and encourage them, and gave them his 
parting embrace, when he left for Macedonia, on 
his way to Jerusalem. It is probable he went 
by the way of Troas, where he expected to 
find Titus, but failing in this, he went by himself 
to Philippi, Thessalonica, and some other places 
previously visited, to encourage the disciples, then 
came to Greece, where he remained three months. 

It was usual for some of the brethren to attend 
the apostles in their journeys, as before stated, 
therefore, on this occasion, there were several 
who accompanied Paul to Asia, they having gone 
before and joined him at Troas. The writer uses 
the word us in his narrative, proving that Luke 
had again joined Paul as his companion. He 
had remained at Philippi as a guest of Lydia, 
while Paul went to Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, 
and other places, preaching the gospel. He says 
that after the feast of the Passover, we sailed 
from Philippi and five days after, came to -Troas 
where we remained seven days. While at this 



254 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

place, the disciples met to celebrate the Lord's 
Supper, in an upper chamber, lighted by numer- 
ous lamps. Here Paul, who was to leave on the 
morrow, preach §d to them and continued his 
sermon until midnight. There sat in a window 
which was left open, a young man named Euty- 
chus, who, wearied by the long discourse, yielded 
to the influence of sleep and fell down from the 
third story, when he was taken up for dead. 
Paul left his hearers, and going down embraced 
him, saying, " Trouble not yourselves, for his life 
is in him." When Paul returned to the upper 
room and had taken some refreshment, and dis- 
coursed a long time, even until the break of day, 
he departed. The friends of Eutychus were 
greatly comforted when they saw the miracle 
that had been wrought in his recovery from 
injury. 

Paul went from Philippi to Assos on foot, pre- 
ferring that method of travel when practicable. 
There were several cities named Assos, but the 
one mentioned in this connection was between 
Troas and Mitylene, the capital of the island of 
Lesbos, one of the largest in the JEgean Sea. 
The capital was distinguished for the beauty of 
its situation and the magnificence of its build- 
ings. It passed through many changes and held 
an important position, but finally came under 
the control of the Romans. The Island of Lesbos 



THE ELOQUENT OB A TOE. 255 

was, in early Greek history, celebrated as the 
original place of the ^Eolian school of lyric 
poetry, and the home of several lyric poets, in- 
cluding Sappho. Besides poetry, philosophy and 
literature flourished here, and it was the home 
of many historians and other learned men. 

The sacred writer says, " We sailed from Mity- 
lene, and passing by Chios or Coos, an island in 
the Archipelago, and the next day arrived at 
Samos," also an island in the same sea, both cele- 
brated in ancient times for their excellent wines. 
Samos, now called Scio, was the scene of a fear- 
ful massacre of the inhabitants by the Turks in 
1823. Paul and his companions stopped at Tro- 
gylium, a town on the coast opposite Samos, and 
the next day arrived at Miletus or Miletum, a 
seaport, and the ancient capital of Ionia, origi- 
nally settled by a colony from Crete. It was the 
birthplace of Thales, one of the " Seven wise 
men of Greece." It became a powerful city and 
sent colonies to several places, and was celebrated 
for a magnificent temple of Apollo. The apostle 
decided not to stop at Ephesus, since it would 
delay his visit to Jerusalem, where he wished to 
celebrate the feast of the Passover, but he sent for 
the elders of the church who came a distance, per- 
haps of forty miles, aad when they arrived, he ad- 
dressed them in "one of the most tender, affec- 
tionate and eloquent discourses ever delivered." 



256 BIBLE- CHARACTERS. 

It describes the apostle's life when among them 
and expresses his interest and concern for their 
welfare, and his firm purpose to live and labor for 
the glory of God, even though suffering perse- 
cution. . Paul had been with the Ephesians three 
years and could, with propriety, make this ap- 
peal, since they had witnessed his faithful labors 
and devoted life. He affirms that he discharged 
his duties in humility and without pride or osten- 
tation, and with tears and great dangers on ac- 
count of the conspiracies of his countrymen to 
murder him. " I kept from you," says the apostle, 
" nothing profitable in the way of doctrine, and 
have ^taught you publicly, and from house to 
house, testifying both to Jews and Greeks, the 
necessity of repentance toward God and faith in 
the Lord Jesus Christ. I am constrained by the 
influences of the Holy Spirit, to go to Jerusalem, 
not knowing what may befall me there, only that 
bonds and afflictions await me. But none of 
these things alarm or deter me from my purpose, 
neither do I consider my life so important as to 
turn me from my purpose, if I may finish my 
special work, of preaching the gospel, a commis- 
sion I received from the Lord Jesus. 

" Now as ye will never see me again I call you 
to witness that I am innocent for the loss of any 
souls, for I have not neglected to declare the 
whole truth of God." The apostle then cautions 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 257 

them against the dangers that will beset them, 
and exhorts them to discharge their duties to 
their flocks, purchased with the blood of Christ, 
faithfully, for, says Paul, " after my departure, 
grievous wolves," using a figure of speech, " will 
come among }^ou not sparing the flock. More- 
over, some of your own church will advance 
doctrines that tend to cause divisions, therefore 
watch, and do not forget that for three years, I 
continued to admonish you night and day, with 
tears. Now, brethren, as I am about to leave 
you, I commend you to God who is able to 
strengthen you and make you partakers of the 
blessings of salvation, together with all the 
saints. I have not sought wealth, as you all 
know, while these hands have ministered to my 
wants, and in doing this, I have taught by pre- 
cept and example that you should help support 
the weak and the poor, remembering the words 
of the Lord Jesus who said, ' It is more blessed 
to give than to receive.' " 

When Paul had finished his remarks to the 
Ephesian elders, he knelt down and prayed, when 
they wept and embraced him with kisses, because 
of his tender advice and interest in them, and also 
that he was about to leave them and they would, 
probably, never see him again. They conducted 
him to the ship and he left Miletus to resume his 
journey to Jerusalem. 



258 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

" After leaving that place, we launched," says 
the writer, " and took a direct course to Coos," 
an island in the Grecian archipelago, " and the 
next day came to Rhodes, and thence to Patara," 
a maritime city in Asia Minor, opposite Rhodes. 
Coos or Chios, a small island in the JEgean Sea, 
was known for its wines, figs, and other fruits, 
for its marble, and the luxury of its inhabitants. 
It claimed to have been the birthplace of Homer, 
though seven cities have contended for that honor. 
It retained its democratic government until con- 
quered by the Persians, though it regained its 
freedom, and joined the Athenian League, but in 
consequence of a revolt, it was subdued and laid 
waste. The island contained rocky mountains 
and fertile valleys. 

Rhodes, also an island in the iEgean Sea, com- 
prised more than one thousand square miles, and 
received its name from its abundance of roses. 
According to tradition, it was settled at a very 
early period, and is mentioned by Homer. It 
became a great maritime state or confederacy, 
and was the theatre of frequent contests between 
different political parties and nationalities, until it 
came under the control of the Romans when they 
became " the masters of the world." The Island 
of Rhodes was celebrated for its Colossus, a 
statue of brass one hundred and five feet in 
height, which stood across the mouth of the har- 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 259 

bor with its feet so far apart that vessels could 
pass between them. It was considered one of 
the " seven wonders of the world," but it re- 
mained only fifty -six years until it was thrown 
down by an earthquake, and when the Saracens 
took possession of the island about nine hundred 
years after, it required nine hundred camels to 
remove the brass. 

The natives of the island were fond of naviga- 
tion, made frequent voyages and established nu- 
merous colonies. The chief city named also 
Rhodes, was celebrated for its architectural 
beauty, and its number of statues. 

Luke continues his account of the voyage and 
says, " After securing a vessel bound for Phoe- 
nicia, we embarked and passing by Cyprus on 
the left, we cpane to Syria, and landed at Tyre, 
where the ship was to unload its cargo." Here 
they remained seven days with the disciples of 
that city, who urged Paul not to go to Jerusa- 
lem, but as he was not to be turned aside from 
his purpose, they, with their wives and children, 
accompanied the apostle outside the city where 
they kneeled on the shore and praj^ed. When 
they all had bidden one another farewell, Paul 
embarked and his friends returned to their 
homes. 

A brief description of Tyre, a city so frequently 
mentioned in the Scriptures, is as follows : It 



260 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

was in Phoenicia, situated on the Mediterranean, 
and built, according to Josephus, about two hun- 
dred and forty years before the Temple of Solo- 
mon, therefore it was a very ancient city, and 
constructed partly on an island, and partly upon 
the mainland. The insular city was on a small 
rocky island, but continental Tyre was very 
large. It was, in the course of its history, be- 
sieged five years by the Assyrians who were un- 
able to capture it, but later, after a siege of thir- 
teen years, it was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, king 
of Babylon, and after a siege of five months 
Alexander the Great captured it, and built an 
immense causeway, half a mile in length, to con- 
nect the two parts of the city, but he burned the 
old Tyre. It was, however, rebuilt and in less than 
twenty years, had recovered, to a great extent, 
its former commercial importance. Neverthe- 
less, it was captured by Antigonus and subse- 
quently by the Syrians, Egyptians and Romans 
in succession. It was taken by the Saracens, the 
Crusaders, and finally by the Mamelukes of 
Egypt. The predictions of the Hebrew prophets 
were fulfilled, who said that, " Tyre should be- 
come like the top of a rock, a place upon which 
to spread nets," referring to the practice of fish- 
ermen. 

After leaving Tyre, Paul and his companions 
came to Ptolemais, and having saluted the 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 261 

brethren, they remained with them one day. 
Ptolemais, originally called Accho, was named 
for one of the Ptolemy s, and was situated on the 
Mediterranean. On the south and west, it was 
bordered by the sea and to protect it, was sur- 
rounded by a triple wall. It contained a temple 
of Diana and a bath of Venus. The Crusaders 
called it Acre or St. John of Acre, from a mag- 
nificent church dedicated to the Apostle John. 
It sustained several sieges during the wars of the 
Crusades, but was recovered by the Turks, and 
at a late period was besieged by the French, but 
it has regained much of its former strength and 
importance though there are very few relics of 
its earlier magnificence. 

The next day Paul left Ptolemais and came to 
Cesarea, where he lodged with Philip, one of the 
seven deacons who, after his conversation with 
the eunuch of Ethiopia, went to Cesarea. 

Philip had seven daughters who were endowed 
with the spirit of prophecy. Paul and his com- 
pany remained there many days, and in the 
meantime, a prophet named Agabus, came from 
Jerusalem. On a former occasion, he had pre- 
dicted, at Antioch, that there would be a great 
famine throughout the world, which did occur in 
the reign of Claudius Caesar. When Agabus 
came to Paul at Cesarea, he took the apostle's 
girdle or belt used to confine his robes, as was the 



262 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

custom, and bound his own hands and feet, saying, 
" The Holy Spirit has revealed that the Jews at 
Jerusalem will bind the o wner of this girdle and 
deliver him to the Gentiles." 

"When his friends heard this prophecy, they be- 
sought Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but he re- 
plied, " Why do ye weep and break my heart, for 
I am not only willing to be bound, but also to 
die for the Lord Jesus." When they found he 
was determined to go, they acquiesced, saying, 
" The will of the Lord be done." After this in- 
cident, Paul and his companions prepared for 
their journey and started for Jerusalem, accom- 
panied by certain disciples from Cesarea. 

When thejr arrived at the capital, the brethren 
received them joyfully, as they had returned in 
safety, after a long absence, and exposure to many 
hardships and dangers. The next day they went 
to the Apostle James, and the elders, and after 
the usual salutation, Paul explained the wonderful 
success, they had met with in their labors among 
the Gentiles. When they heard it, they glori- 
fied the Lord. They recognized the apostle as a 
fellow-Christian laborer, and desired him to do 
all he could to conciliate the favor of his country- 
men for, said they, " Thou seest, brother, many 
thousands of Jews who believe, and are all zeal- 
ous for the law, and they have heard that thou 
teachest those living among the Gentiles, to for- 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. • 263 

sake the commands of Moses. How is it ? The 
multitude will assemble when it will be impossi- 
ble to avoid a tumult." The Jews were greatly 
excited because one of their own nation had for- 
saken the religion of their fathers, as they sup- 
posed, therefore Paul's presence at Jerusalem 
would be likely to cause a great public commo- 
tion. 

His friends suggested a method to avoid such 
an excitement, somewhat as follows : " James and 
the elders," they said," have with us four men 
who have made a vow of the Nazarites," which 
forbids several things including shaving the hair. 
" We advise you to join them and share the ex- 
pense of the sacrifices and offerings required, that 
it may be known thou keepest the law. In re- 
gard to the Gentiles, we have written that it is 
not necessary they should observe the ceremonial 
law, but they should abstain from certain things 
specified." 

The next day, Paul in company with the four 
men, having performed the ceremonies connected 
with the vow, entered the temple. 

"When the seven days for the observance of 
the vow were ended, the Jews of Asia Minor who 
had come to Jerusalem, probably, to join in its 
festivities, aroused a public disorder, and during 
the excitement, seized Paul and shouted, "Men 
of Israel, help. This is the man that everywhere 



264 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

preaches against the Jews, the law, and the tem- 
ple. Beside, he brought Greeks into this house, 
and hath defiled it." They had seen Trophimus 
an Ephesian in the city, and supposed that Paul 
had brought him into the temple. 

There w r as a great public commotion, and the 
people running together, seized Paul, drew him 
out of the temple with the intention of killing 
him, and closed the doors. 

When the chief captain of the Roman soldiers, 
whose name was Claudius Lvsias, stationed at 
the tower of Antonio, north of the temple, was 
aware of the popular tumult, he collected his 
troops and hastened to inquire into the cause, 
and when the angry people saw him, they ceased 
to beat Paul, fearing, perhaps, to be called to ac- 
count by the Roman government. The chief 
captain commanded his soldiers to bind Paul 
with two chains, that is undoubtedly, between 
two soldiers, one chained to his right hand, the 
other to his left, thus the prediction of Agabus, 
that the apostle would be bound, w 7 as fulfilled. 
Some of the multitude shouted one thing, and 
some another, so there was great confusion. 
Claudius Lysias commanded him to be taken 
to the castle, and on account of the popular 
excitement, he was carried by the soldiers, to 
protect him from violence, over the stairs which 
led from the temple to the tower of Antonio, 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 265 

the crowd following them crying, "Away with 
him." 

As Paul was about to be led into the castle, he 
said to the chief captain, " May I speak to thee ? 
that is, can I have the privilege of making my de- 
fence ? " " Canst thou speak Greek ? " replied the 
officer. " Art not thou the Egyptian who led 
4,000 men from the wilderness to the Mount of 
Olives whose purpose was murder, plunder, and 
insurrection ? " The apostle asked permission to 
address the people, and being granted his request, 
he stood on the stairs and beckoned with his 
hand, when there was perfect silence in the 
crowd, and he addressed them in the Hebrew 
language. 

Before he began his speech, he affirmed his 
nationality, and mentioned the place of his na- 
tivity, thus correcting the mistake of the chief 
captain, and others who' may have been under 
the same delusion. The scene as pictured by the 
imagination was as follows : " A prisoner of 
small size with care-worn visage and bruised 
limbs, the result of mob violence, chained be- 
tween two athletic Roman soldiers, who are 
carrying him to the castle for safety. They 
halt upon the stairs, when he asks permission to 
address the tumultuous crowd who are shouting, 
' Away with him ! Away with him ! ' The 
prisoner made a gesture with his hand, when the 



266 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

clamor was hushed, and the orator began his de- 
fence in the Hebrew language." He addressed 
his hearers as " Men, brethren, and fathers," and 
then gives an account of his own life, his native 
place, his early education, his zeal for the na- 
tional religion, his persecutions of the Christians, 
his journey to Damascus and what befell him on 
the way, his conversion and baptism, his call to 
preach the gospel, his return to Jerusalem, the 
martyrdom of Stephen, and his own call to labor 
for the Gentiles, and would have continued his 
remarks, but his hearers at this point, inter- 
rupted him by exclaiming in a loud voice, " Away 
with such a fellow from the earth ! It is not fit 
he should live." Then they cast off their outer 
garments, as if intending to stone him, and cast 
dust into the air, as an expression of their indig- 
nation, but Paul, being guarded by Koman sol- 
diers, they could not injure. 

The chief captain, not having understood the 
apostle's Hebrew address, ordered him to be 
brought into the castle and scourged, that he 
might confess his offence, which he supposed was 
some flagrant crime. As they bound Paul with 
thongs preparatory to scourging, he said to the 
centurion standing near, u Is it lawful to scourge 
a Roman uncondemned ? " When the centurion 
heard Paul's question, he said to the chief cap- 
tain, " Take heed what you do. This man is a 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 267 

Roman." It was directly contrary to the Roman 
law to bind and scourge a Roman citizen. The 
chief captain said to the apostle, " Art thou a 
Roman ? " He replied, " Yes," when the captain 
said, " With a great sum I obtained this free- 
dom." Paul replied, " I was born free." The cap- 
tain was afraid when he knew that he had violated 
a Roman law, and having loosed his bonds, the 
next day he sent for the chief priests and the 
great Council of the nation — the Sanhedrim — and 
brought Paul before them, that he might learn 
the real nature of the charge brought against 
him. 



CHAPTEE XXL 

AN APPEAL TO CiESAR. 

When Paul was brought before the Sanhe- 
drim, or great Council of the nation, comprising 
seventy members, he observed them closely to 
ascertain, if possible, the character of the judges 
before whom he was arraigned. The apostle 
began his defence by saying, " Men and brethren, 
I have lived conscientiously before God until this 
day." Here he was interrupted by a command 
of Ananias, the high priest, to those who stood 
by him, to smite Paul on the mouth, to stop his 
speaking, as the apostle's assertion was offensive 
to him. Then Paul said, " God shall smite thee, 
thou whited wall," a proverb to denote hypocrisy 
— "for do you judge me after the law and com- 
mand me to be smitten contrary to the law ? " 
Those who stood near said, " Do you revile God's 
high priest ? " Paul replied, " I did not know, 
brethren, that he was the high priest. It is 
written thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of 
my people." The apostle's excuse has been vari- 
ously interpreted by different writers. 

When Paul perceived that a part of the 

268 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 269 

Council were Sadducees, and part were Phari- 
sees, he said, "I am a Pharisee, and the son of a 
Pharisee, and for the hope that the dead will be 
raised, I am called in question." This declaration 
of the apostle caused a dispute between the two 
sects, for the Sadducees did not believe in a resur- 
rection, angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees 
accepted these doctrines. The questions in dis- 
pute were, first, Whether the dead would be 
raised and exist in a future state; second, 
Whether mind was distinct from matter. There 
was a great tumult, when the Pharisees said, 
" We find no evil in this man," that is nothing 
contrary to the law of Moses, " but if a spirit or 
an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight 
against God," or as some have understood, 
" what is there unusual or wrong ? " 

When the chief captain witnessed the fierce 
controversy, and fearing that Paul would suffer 
serious injury at their hands, he commanded the 
soldiers to go and take him away and bring him 
into the castle. During the night Paul had a 
vision, in which the Lord Jesus stood by him and 
said, " Be of good cheer, Paul ; as thou hast wit- 
nessed for Me in Jerusalem, so must thou also at 
Rome." 

When it was day, certain Jews, numbering 
forty, formed a conspiracy to kill him, pledging 
themselves by an oath, that they would neither 



270 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

eat nor drink until they had accomplished their 
purpose. They went to the chief priests and told 
them about their oath, and requested them, with 
the Council, to ask the chief captain to allow 
Paul to come to them for the purpose of making 
further inquiry, and " before he comes near, we," 
that is the conspirators, " will kill him." A son 
of Paul's sister, having a knowledge of the plot, 
went to the castle and told Paul, who sent for 
one of the centurions, and asked him to conduct 
the young man to the chief captain, as he had a 
message for him. When the centurion had in- 
troduced him, the chief captain took the young 
man by the hand, and leading him aside, asked 
him . privately wiiat he had to say. It is not 
revealed by what means Paul's nephew obtained 
his information about the conspiracy, but it is 
possible there had not been a strict observance of 
secrecy among the intended assassins. The chief 
captain sent away the young man with the in- 
junction, not to repeat to any one the news he 
had communicated. 

This government official called two centurions, 
and ordered them to make ready two hundred 
men under their command, with seventy horse- 
men, and two hundred spearmen, to go to 
Cesarea. They w r ere to start at nine o'clock in 
the evening, so that their departure might not be 
suspected. They were to provide animals for 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 271 

Paul and his attendants, who were to be con- 
ducted to Felix, the governor of Judea, whose 
place of residence was at Cesarea, about sixty 
miles from Jerusalem. The chief captain sent a 
letter to Felix, saying : " Claudius Lysias unto 
the most excellent governor, Felix, sendeth greet- 
ing. This man was taken by the Jews and would 
have been killed had I not rescued him with an 
army. I brought him to their Council, and dis- 
covered that he was accused of having violated 
some of their laws, but was charged with no 
crime worthy of death or bonds. When I learned 
that the Jews laid wait to kill him, I immediately 
sent him to you, and commanded his accusers to 
appear before you." 

The soldiers, having received their orders, took 
Paul and brought him, by night, to Antipatris, a 
town about twentj^-six miles from Cesarea, and 
thirty-five miles from Jerusalem. In the morning, 
the soldiers having conducted the apostle beyond 
danger from the conspirators, returned directly 
to the castle, leaving him in the care of the horse- 
men, who, when they arrived at Cesarea, delivered 
the letter of Claudius Lysias to the governor, and 
presented Paul to him. Felix, having read the 
letter, and learned that the prisoner was from the 
province of Cilicia, which was within his own 
jurisdiction, said, " I will hear thee, when thine 
accusers arrive," and then commanded him to be 



272 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

kept in the pretorium or judgment-hall of Herod. 
Here Paul remained five days until Ananias, the 
high priest, the elders, and Tertullus, a Roman 
orator, or lawyer engaged as his accuser, arrived. 
When Paul was brought forth from prison, 
Tertullus began his speech by a complimentary 
address to the governor, saying, " As we enjoy 
quietness, and many things have been done by 
thee for our welfare, we accept them with thank- 
fulness, most noble Felix. In thy clemency, I 
pray thee, hear us briefly state our case. We 
have found this man a pestilence, an exciter of 
sedition among the Jews everywhere, and a 
leader of the sect of Nazarenes, and one who 
profaned the Temple. We would have judged him 
according to our law, but the chief captain 
Lysias, forcibly took him from us and com- 
manded his accusers to appear before thee." The 
Jews who accompanied Tertullus to Cesarea, as- 
sented to what their advocate affirmed. After 
the governor had signified, perhaps by a wave of 
the hand, that Paul could speak for himself, he 
began ;"As thou hast been for many years a judge 
of this nation, I readily answer for myself, since 
you are well acquainted with the customs and opin- 
ions of the Jews. It has been only twelve daj T s 
since I went to Jerusalem, and they neither found 
me in the Temple disputing with any one, nor did I 
arouse a public excitement in the synagogues or 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 273 

in the city. Neither can they prove the charges - 
brought against me. But this I confess, that ac- 
cording to the way they call heresy, I worship 
the God of my fathers, believing all things writ- 
ten in the law and the prophets, and I believe in 
the resurrection both of the just and the unjust. 
It is my constant aim to do what my conscience 
approves, toward God and men. After many 
years' absence, I went to Jerusalem to carry the 
contributions of the churches to the poor saints 
in Judea, when certain Jews from Asia Minor, 
found me in the Temple where I went to fulfill 
my vow, but in a quiet way unattended by a 
crowd. These my accusers ought to be here as 
witnesses if they have anything against me ; but 
let those who are present testify, if they are 
able, that I did wrong while before the Sanhe- 
drim, unless it was for my opinion about the 
resurrection of the dead, for which I am called 
in question to-day." 

After hearing Paul's defence, Felix replied, 
" When Lysias the chief captain comes, I shall be 
better prepared to decide the case." He then 
commanded a centurion to take charge of Paul, 
and allow him the liberty of receiving his friend's, 
and not to forbid any of his acquaintances to 
offer him gifts. It is evident that Felix was 
favorably disposed toward the apostle, and 
would show him all the indulgence consistent 



274 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

with his safe-keeping. He considered him a 
persecuted man, and doubtless regarded the 
charges against him as false and instigated by 
malice. 

Felix had persuaded Drusilla, a daughter of 
Herod Agrippa, to forsake her husband and 
marry him, an act considered a violation of the 
moral law. When the governor and his wife 
came to Cesarea, he sent for Paul to hear him 
preach, perhaps to be more fully acquainted with 
the case, or to gratify his wife who was a Jew- 
ess. As the eloquent preacher reasoned of 
righteousness, temperance, and a future judgment, 
Felix trembled and said, " Go thy way for this 
time ; when I have a convenient season, I will 
call for thee." The governor sent for Paul 
many times and talked with him, hoping that 
the prisoner w^ould give him money, and after 
two years, Felix, to show the Jews a favor, left 
him bound, that is a prisoner, and retired from 
his official position, succeeded by Porcius Festus. 

Claudius Felix was procurator of Judea in 
the reigns of the Emperors Claudius and Nero, 
and was a freedman of Claudius. His original 
name was Antonius Felix. Both in his public 
and private character, he was unscrupulous and 
profligate. His government, though cruel and 
oppressive, was strong. He suppressed all pub- 
lic disturbers of the peace and freed the country 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR 275 

of robbers. He arrested a band of highwaymen 
and sent them to Eome for punishment ; he 
seized an Egyptian false prophet who led four 
thousand men in the wilderness, and threatened 
the peace of Judea; and he repressed a sedition 
incited by the people of Cesarea and Syria. He 
was especially successful in quieting riots and in- 
surrections. When he was recalled to Rome, he 
was followed by Jews who accused him of extor- 
tion and other acts of injustice during his admin- 
istration, but he was saved from punishment by 
the plea of his brother Pallas, before Nero. 

After Festus had arrived in Judea to assume 
his official duties, he remained three days at 
Cesarea, and then left for Jerusalem. Though 
the Roman governors usually resided at Cesarea, 
yet it was necessary to visit the capital to be- 
come acquainted with the affairs of the nation. 
As soon as it was known the governor had ar- 
rived, the high priest and chief men among the 
Jews, informed him about Paul, and urged him 
to send for him under the pretence that he might 
be examined by the Sanhedrim, but their object 
was to waylay and kill him. Festus told them 
Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he 
himself would soon go there, then u those who 
are competent can go with me and appear as his 
accusers, if he has committed any crime." 

As Paul was a Roman citizen he could not be 



276 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

tried by the Jewish Council, therefore he would 
be brought before the governor at Cesarea. 
About ten days after, Festus returned to Cesarea, 
and the next day he held a court for the trial of 
the apostle. As he sat in the judgment-seat, 
the Jews, Paul's accusers, stood near and made 
known their complaints against the prisoner, 
probably the same as those with which they had 
charged him before Felix, but they could not 
prove them. Paul affirmed that he had done no 
wrong against the Jewish laws, the Temple, nor 
Caesar. Festus, willing to please the Jews said 
to Paul, " Will you go to Jerusalem and be tried 
there before me?" The prisoner firmly replied, 
"I stand at Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought 
to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, 
as thou knowest. If I have committed any of- 
ence deserving death, I refuse not to die, but if 
I am innocent, no one should deliver me to them. 
I appeal to Caesar." When Festus had conferred 
with the Council, he said to Paul, " Hast thou 
appealed unto Caesar? Unto Caesar thou shalt 
go." 

King Agrippa and Bernice came to Cesarea to 
salute Festus, and show him respect as the gov- 
ernor of Judea. During their visit, Festus in- 
formed them about Paul, giving an account of 
his case and the opposition of the Jews, etc. 
Agrippa, who, of course, had heard of the excite- 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 277 

merit about him, said he should like to hear the 
man himself. Festus replied he should have the 
opportunity on the morrow. 

The next day, Agrippa, Bernice, the chief cap- 
tains, and civil officers of the city, came with 
great parade and splendor, and entered the court- 
room, when, at the command of Festus, Paul was 
brought into their presence. Festus then ad- 
dressed the king, saying, " King Agrippa, and all 
others present, this is the man whom the Jews 
accuse, saying that he ought not to live any 
longer, but when I found that he had done noth- 
ing worthy of death, and that he himself had 
appealed to Caesar, I decided to send him to 
Augustus, but in regard to the charges against 
him, there is nothing definite or proved, that 
I could send to the emperor, therefore I have 
brought him before you, King Agrippa, that 
you, being of the same nation, might give me 
more particular information, for it seems un- 
reasonable to send a prisoner and not signify the 
crimes alleged against him." 

Then Agrippa said to Paul, " Thou art per- 
mitted to speak for thyself." Paul stretched 
forth his hand, the usual posture of orators or 
public speakers, and said, " I am happy, King 
Agrippa, to answer for myself before thee in 
regard to the things of which I am accused by 
the Jews." The apostle considered it a favor to 



278 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

make his defence before one acquainted with 
Jewish customs and opinions. On former occa- 
sions, he had been before Roman magistrates, 
who had an imperfect knowledge of them, there- 
fore were incompetent judges. Paul was now 
on trial, but he was to defend himself, or state 
his case so that Agrippa might be able to assist 
Festus in writing a correct account of it to the 
Roman emperor. The charges made by the 
Jews were, that Paul was a mover of sedition, a 
ringleader of the Christians, and a profaner of 
the Temple. 

Paul says that his manner of life from his 
youth was known to the Jews, and that he was 
a .Pharisee of the strictest order. " I now stand 
before this tribunal to be judged upon a subject 
on which all my nation are agreed, that is the 
promise made to our fathers, of the coming of a 
Messiah, a promise which our nation hope to see 
fulfilled, and for this very hope, King Agrippa, 
I am persecuted by my countrymen. Is it an 
incredible thing that God should raise the dead ? " 

After these preliminary remarks, Paul gives an 
account of his own experience, stating his oppo- 
sition to the Christians, and his persecutions of 
them, his conversion on his way to Damascus, 
his call to preach the gospel which he promptly 
obeyed, beginning his labors in Damascus, then 
going to Jerusalem, and at length proclaiming 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 279 

the doctrine of repentance to the Gentiles, and 
that Christ suffered and rose from the dead. 
" For this reason," said he, " the Jews sought my 
life, yet through Divine help, I remain to this 
day ; but I preach no other doctrine on the sub- 
ject, than was taught by Moses and the prophets." 

Festus, surprised at Paul's earnestness and elo- 
quence, said in a loud voice so that all could 
hear, " Paul, thou art beside thyself ; much learn- 
ing doth make thee mad," meaning that he was 
insane. Paul gently but firmly replied, " I am 
not mad, or deranged, most noble Festus, but I 
speak the words of truth and soberness. The 
king knows about the things of which I speak, 
for they did not occur secretly. King Agrippa, 
do you believe the prophets ? I know thou be- 
lievest." Agrippa replied, " Almost thou per- 
suadest me to become a Christian." The apostle 
said, " I pray to God that not only thou, but all 
who hear me may be as I am, except these 
chains." After Paul had thus spoken, Festus, 
Agrippa, Bernice, and others present, withdrew 
to consult together about the matter. They 
agreed that Paul had done nothing to deserve 
death or imprisonment in chains. Agrippa said 
to Festus, " If Paul had not appealed to Caesar, 
he might have been set at liberty." 

Paul continued a prisoner at Cesarea for some 
time, waiting to be sent to Borne, after he ap- 



280 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

pealed to Caesar. It was a frequent occurrence 
to transport those accused of crimes, from Judea 
and other provinces, to the Koman capital for 
judicial trial. How Paul spent the time while 
waiting at Cesarea, which some have thought 
was two years, can only be conjectured. He 
may have devoted his lonely hours to writing, or 
at least to planning some of his letters to his 
fellow-Christians in other regions. A man like 
the apostle would not dwell with despondency 
upon his present or past sufferings, nor would he 
be despondent about the uncertain future, since 
he was willing to suffer and even die for his Lord 
and Master. 



CHAPTEK XXIL 

A PKIS0NER TO KOME. 

When Festus decided that Paul should be sent 
to Italy, he was placed with other prisoners un- 
der the guard of Julius, a centurion of Augustus' 
band, named for the emperor, and numbering 
from four hundred to six hundred men. The 
distance to Rome was considerable, and must be 
travelled mostly by sea. There was at this time, 
in the port of Cesarea, a vessel from Adra- 
myttium, a maritime town of Mysia, in Asia 
Minor, opposite the Island of Lesbos. The ship 
was not bound for Italy, but the centurion ex- 
pected to And some other vessel on which to em- 
bark the prisoners for Rome. However, they, 
having embarked, loosed their anchors, intending 
to sail by the coast of Asia Minor. 

Two of Paul's friends, namely, Luke and 
Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, 
accompanied him, willing to share his dangers, 
and anxious to cheer and encourage him. The 
next day they came to Sidon, when Julius kindly 
gave Paul liberty to land and visit his friends in 
that city, who, perhaps, supplied him with what- 

281 



282 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

ever would make him comfortable* during his 
long voyage. Paul had travelled in that region 
during his missionary journeys, and had won 
many friends. 

Sidon, one of the most ancient cities of the 
world and a port of Phoenicia, is supposed to 
have been founded by Sidon, the son of Canaan, 
perhaps 2000 b. c. '; it was sometimes called 
Zidon. As early as the conquest of Canaan by 
the Israelites, it was known as " Great Zidon." 
It was situated on a plain bordering the Mediter- 
ranean, north of Tyre, and in early times was 
strongly fortified. It had a good harbor and 
was the chief seat of the maritime power until it 
was excelled by that of Tyre. The inhabitants 
early acquired eminence in the arts, manufac- 
tures, and commerce, and were among the earli- 
est shipwrights and navigators. They acquired 
great wealth, and consequently were luxurious. 
" To live in ease and security," became a proverb 
for living as the Sidonians. 

This ancient city was captured at different 
times by foreign powers ; as the Assyrians, Baby- 
lonians and Persians. At the time of the ex- 
pedition of Xerxes to Greece, the Sidonians fur- 
nished the best ships for which they were hon- 
ored by the conqueror, but during a revolt at a 
later period, they burned themselves with their 
city, to avoid falling into the hands of their 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 283 

enemies, though the town was rebuilt. Sidon 
was taken by the Eomans who held it during 
Paul's day, but subsequently, it was captured 
alternately by the Saracens, Turks and the 
sultans of Egypt, who destroyed it together 
with Tyre, to prevent them from affording an 
asylum for Christians. After leaving Sidon, 
they sailed along the coast of Cyprus to avoid 
the violent winds, instead of sailing in a direct 
course for the open sea. Passing by Cilicia 
and Pamphylia, they came to Myra, a city of 
Lycia. 

Myra or Myron was the capital of the province 
of Lycia, under the Romans. It was built on a 
rock, a short distance from land, and in the time 
of Paul, was an important seaport. There are 
still ruins of the city which prove its magnifi- 
cence. Lycia was a province in the southern 
part of Asia Minor, and is a mountainous region, 
has a prominent position in the Iliad, and is the 
scene of some ancient legends. The Lycians, 
under the Persian Empire, are supposed to have 
been a powerful and maritime nation. Their po- 
litical history varies, since they come under the 
rule of different masters. Works of art have 
been found in this ancient province, some of 
which are in the British Museum. 

While at Myra, the centurion found a ship 
from Alexandria, Egypt, laden with wheat, 



284 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

which was an article of export in the trade be- 
tween Borne and Egypt. It is probable this ship 
had been driven out of the regular course by vio- 
lent winds, and had drifted to the coast of Asia 
Minor. Julius placed his passengers on board 
this ship and set sail for Italy. Their progress 
Avas slow in consequence of unfavorable weather, 
and it required many days to reach Cnidus, a 
city in Asia Minor, northwest of the Island of 
Khodes, but as the winds continued to blow, they 
were driven southwest, to the Island of Crete, 
some distance from Rhodes. Passing by Cnidus, 
a city built on the promontory of the same name, 
they sailed along the coast of Crete to Salmone, a 
point of land at the eastern extremity of the 
island, where they were in danger of being ship- 
wrecked. Escaping that disaster, however, they 
came to a place called " The fair havens " in the 
southeastern part of Crete, near the city of 
Lasea, where there was a place for anchorage. 

Cnidus, a city on the eastern coast of Caria, in 
Asia Minor, was situated partly on the mainland 
and partly on an island connected with it by a 
causeway. It was celebrated for the statue of 
Venus by Praxiteles, placed in a temple of this 
goddess. The city contained also temples of 
Apollo and Neptune, and had the historical 
celebrity of having been the scene of the great 
naval battle of Pisander, the Spartan admiral, 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 285 

and Conon the Athenian general, in the Pelopon- 
nesian war. 

Crete, now called Candia, is one of the largest 
islands in the Mediterranean. A range of moun- 
tains crosses the entire length and in the centre, 
rises Mt. Ida, 7,674 feet in height which, in my- 
thology, is the place where Jupiter was brought 
up in a cave, while from its summit, the gods, ac- 
cording to tradition, watched the battles on the 
plains of Troy ; and it was here also, the " judg- 
ment of Paris " occurred which eventually led to 
the Trojan war. 

Crete was inhabited at an early period by a 
civilized people. King Minas, according to his- 
tory, governed the island before the Trojan war, 
and is said to have been the first prince who had 
a navy which he employed in suppressing piracy 
in the iEgean Sea. After several generations, 
the cities became independent republics, but the 
inhabitants were degenerate in their morals. 
Paul describes them as " always liars, evil beasts," 
etc. They were celebrated archers and fre- 
quently served as mercenaries in the armies of 
other nations. The island was conquered by the 
Eomans 68-66 b. c, and now belongs to Turkey. 

Salmone, or Salmonia, an important town in 
Illyricum, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic, 
was the capital of Dalmatia. It was strongly 
fortified, and made a Roman colony. It was the 



286 BIBLE CHABACTEBS. 

native place of the Emperor Diocletian, and his 
home after his abdication. It is said that the 
remains of a magnificent palace are still to be 
seen at this place. 

Their progress along the coast of Asia was 
slow and dangerous, on account of contrary 
winds. It is probable that Julius hoped to 
reach Italy befdre the stormy period, but he had 
been delayed in his plans. Luke says the fast 
was already past. This referred to the day of 
atonement observed by the Jews in the tenth 
month, called Tisri, corresponding to a part of 
September, and a part of October, the period of 
the autumnal equinox, when the navigation of 
the Mediterranean was considered especially un- 
safe on account of the storms. 

Paul, understanding the dangers, tried to per- 
suade them not to attempt the voyage at that 
season. He told them that it would be attended 
with perils, not only to the ship and cargo, but 
also to the lives of the company on board. The 
centurion, however, believed the captain and the 
owner of the ship, who was on the vessel, rather 
than Paul. ' The " Fair havens " not being con- 
sidered an appropriate place in which to winter, 
the majority of the crew advised that they should 
sail to Phenice, a port or harbor on the southern 
coast of Crete, where they could pass the winter 
in safety. The wind before had blown from the 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 287 

west, but now it came gently from the south, so 
that the captain supposed they could sail along 
the coast of Crete, and loosing from " Fair 
havens," they followed this plan, but soon after, 
there arose a violent wind named Euroclydon, a 
Greek word meaning wind and wave. It may 
have been a hurricane, which rapidly changes its 
points of compass. The ship could not resist the 
violence of this wind, therefore it became unman- 
ageable. 

Running close to the small island of Clauda, 
near the southern coast of Crete, where the force 
of the wind was partly broken, they found it 
difficult even here, to save the small boat towed 
to the stern of the ship, therefore, with much 
difficulty, they raised it on deck, and thus saved 
it. They next tried to secure the vessel by 
undergirding it, which was done by passing 
ropes, cables, or chains from one side to the 
other, to prevent the planks from starting, by the 
violent action of the sea. The rope was slipped 
under the prow and passed along the deck, where 
it was made fast. The sailors feared they might 
run upon the quicksands, which were constantly 
changing their positions. There were two vast 
beds of quicksands on the coast of Africa, called 
the " Greater and the Lesser." 

As the ship continued to be tossed by the 
waves, the next day they " strake sail," that is, 



288 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

lowered the masts or yards to which the sails 
were attached, either by cutting them down or 
in some other way. As the storm continued, the 
seamen lightened the ship by casting overboard 
the cargo or a part of it, and on the third day of 
the voyage they cast overboard everything not 
absolutely essential, such as the anchors, and per- 
haps sails, cables, baggage, etc. As they could see 
neither sun nor stars, and having no compass, an 
instrument not then invented, they could take no 
observations, and were in ignorance about their 
position, therefore they abandoned all hope of 
being saved. In consequence of their prolonged 
efforts to save the ship, their imminent perils, and 
fear of being wrecked, the sailors had taken no 
food for some time. 

Paul reproved them for leaving Crete against 
his advice, and thus exposing all on board to the 
dangers of a shipwreck, and then exhorts them to 
be of good courage, for no lives would be lost, 
only the ship would be wrecked. He then gives 
the reason for this prediction. He says : " There 
stood by me in the night an angel of God whom 
I serve, saying, 'Fear not, Paul, thou must be 
brought before Caesar, and God has given thee 
all w r ho sail with thee.' Be of good cheer, for I 
believe God that it shall be as was told me. 
Nevertheless, we must be cast upon a certain 
island." 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 289 

The ship had weathered the storm fourteen 
days, and during the night of the fourteenth, as 
they were driven up and down the Adriatic Sea, 
the seamen, confident they were approaching 
land, sounded and found the water to be twenty 
fathoms, or about one hundred and twenty feet. 
Sailing a little further, they found it fifteen 
fathoms, therefore they knew they were coming 
near the shore. Fearing they might be dashed 
upon the rocks, they cast four anchors and waited 
for the morning. The sailors, leaving the pris- 
oners and their guards, under pretence it was 
necessary to carry the anchors ahead of the ship, 
but really intending to go on shore, let down the 
boat, and were about to enter, when Paul said to ■ 
the centurion and the soldiers, " Except the sea- 
men abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved," for 
there would be no one who understood how to 
manage the vessel. As the sailors had not 
entered the boat, the soldiers cut the rope and 
let it fall into the sea. 

After a night of anxious watching, as the day 
began to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some 
food, as they had fasted fourteen days, that is, 
had taken no regular meal. He then encouraged 
them by saying that, "Not a hair should fall 
from the head of any of you," a proverbial ex- 
pression denoting they should be preserved. 
Paul then took bread and gave thanks to God in 



290 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

the presence of the whole company, and began to 
eat. The others followed his example and were 
greatly encouraged. The number of persons on 
board was two hundred and seventy-six. After 
breaking their long fast, they threw the wheat, 
with which the ship was loaded, into the sea, 
hoping by this act to come nearer the shore. 

When the day dawned, they discovered land 
but did not know where they Avere. However, 
they saw a bay convenient for landing, and rais- 
ing the anchors, loosening the rudder and unfurl- 
ing the sails, they started for the shore, but in 
their efforts to reach the harbor, the ship ran on 
a bar or sand-bank and the stern was broken. 
The soldiers, with shocking barbarity, suggested 
that all the prisoners should be killed to prevent 
their escape, though they had not been tried for 
their offences by any legal court. Roman mili- 
tary discipline was very strict, and perhaps the 
soldiers feared they might be accused of negli- 
gence if they allowed the prisoners to escape. 
The centurion, wishing to save Paul, prevented 
the execution of so barbarous an act. 

Julius, the centurion, was disposed to treat 
Paul with kindness from his first acquaintance 
with him, and, doubtless, believed him innocent 
of the charges brought against him by his 
countrymen. He gave orders that all who could 
swim should cast themselves into the sea and try 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 291 

to reach land, and for those who were not able 
to swim to get on the floating pieces of the ship- 
wrecked vessel. Providentially, all on board 
• escaped to land as Paul had predicted. The 
island called Melita now Malta, was the land they 
reached. There has been a question about the 
identity of the island on which the apostle 
landed. Some writers have thought it was 
Meleda, in the Adriatic sea, near the Illyrian 
coast. The inhabitants were barbarians, a term 
not applicable to the Maltese. It was a damp 
and woody island, adapted to the prevalence of 
vipers or poisonous snakes, and to the disease 
with which the father of Publius was afflicted. 

Melita or Malta is an island south of Sicily, and 
is about twenty miles from east to west, and twelve 
miles from north to south. Its foundation was 
stone which was covered by the aborigines with 
earth brought from Sicily. The island now belongs 
to Great Britain. It was occupied in Paul's day by 
a colony from Carthage, therefore their language 
was not understood by Greeks and Latins. Malta 
had or has a good harbor, and the inhabitants 
were wealthy, and their dwellings were large and 
beautiful. They were celebrated for their mer- 
chandise, and all kinds of manufactures including 
fine linen. 

The Greeks regarded all nations barbarians 
who did not speak their language, but the name 



292 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

did not denote a people of savage habits, but 
simply those whose speech was not understood. 
The natives were very kind to the strangers cast 
upon their island, and kindled a fire to warm 
them as it was cold and rainy, the season being 
October. The apostle assisted them in making a 
fire, and having gathered a bundle of sticks, he 
laid them on the wood, when a viper came out of 
the burning sticks and fastened itself on his hand. 
When the natives saw this they said to one an- 
other, " No doubt this man is a murderer who, 
though he escaped the dangers of the sea, venge- 
ance suffereth him not to live." When Paul 
shook off the viper into the fire, without any 
harm to himself, the Maltese looked on with 
astonishment, expecting to see him fall dead from 
the bite, but as he did not, they changed their 
minds and said he must be a god. 

Publius, the Roman governor of the island, 
entertained the ship's company very courteously 
for three days. His father was ill with fever and 
dysentery and Paul calling upon him, after offer- 
ing a prayer, laid his hands on the invalid when 
he was restored to health. 

The news of the miracle soon spread and other 
diseased persons came and were healed, while the 
natives brought gifts of such things as were 
necessary for the comfort of their guests. Paul 
and his companions remained at Melita three 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 293 

months, and then embarked on board a ship 
from Alexandria which had wintered in the 
island, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. It 
was customary to place on the prow of the ship 
the image of a person or god whose name it 
bore. These were the names of twin brothers 
and sons of Jupiter, who, according to my- 
thology, after their deaths, were made constella- 
tions in the heavens, and were supposed to be 
the protectors of sailors, therefore their images 
were frequently placed on ships. 

Arriving at Syracuse, the capital of Sicily, they 
remained three days, after which they sailed 
along the eastern coast of the island and came to 
Ehegium, now called Eeggio, in the southern 
part of the kingdom of Naples, and the next day 
to Puteoli, the modern Pozzuoli, celebrated for 
its warm baths. Here they were entertained by 
Christians, but it is not known from whom these 
disciples first heard the gospel. When the breth- 
ren at Eome heard that Paul had arrived in 
Italy, they went to meet him at Appii Forum 
and the Three Taverns, and when he saw them, 
the apostle thanked God and took courage. The 
Christians at Eome had heard of the remark- 
able success attending the missionary labors of 
Paul, and he had written his epistle to them 
about five years before. 

A brief description of some of the other places 



294 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

through or near which the apostle travelled dur- 
ing his last journeys, is as folio ws : 

Syracuse the capital of Sicily where Paul 
spent three days on his journey to Rome, was 
founded by a colony from Corinth about 734 b. c. 
It spread over a large territory and comprised 
four or five distinct sections each surrounded by 
separate walls. Neapolis, one division of the city, 
contained many temples and the chief theatre, in 
ancient times. Syracuse contained stone-quarries 
in which Athenian captive prisoners were con- 
fined and on one side was the remarkable exca- 
vation called the " Ear of Dionysius " with a 
small opening above, so that the keeper could 
hear the conversation of his prisoners. The city 
was besieged by the Athenians in the Peloponne- 
sian war, and destroj^ed by them 413 B. c, but 
was rebuilt. The government was alternately a 
monarchy and a republic, the changes being quite 
frequent, until it was captured by the Romans 
after a siege of two years, when Archimedes con- 
structed different engines of war. 

Rhegium, now Reggio, was a Greek town situ- 
ated on the strait which separates Sicily from 
Italy. It was founded about the beginning of 
the First Messenian war, 743 B. c, by emigrants 
who left their country at the beginning of hos- 
tilities between Sparta and Messenia, 743 B. c, 
called the First Messenian war. At the close of 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 295 

the Second Messenian war 685-668 b. o., it be- 
came a flourishing and important city. The 
government at first was an aristocracy, but 
later, a republic. Dionysius, called the Tyrant 
of Syracuse, carried on a war against the inhabi- 
tants for a long time and finally captured the 
place. In the war with Pyrrhus, the Rhegians 
applied to the Romans for assistance when the 
latter placed in the town a garrison of four thou- 
sand soldiers, who killed or expelled all the male 
inhabitants. The Ehegians who escaped were 
finally restored to their city, but it never re- 
covered its former greatness. 

Puteoli now Pozzuoli was a seaport of Cam- 
pania, founded by the Greeks 521 B. c. In the 
second Punic war the Romans fortified it, and 
protected its excellent harbor by a mole of 
reddish earth called pozzolana which, mixed with 
chalk, makes an excellent cement. This mole 
was constructed in arches, parts of which are still 
to be seen. Puteoli was once the chief centre of 
commerce with Spain, and was celebrated for its 
warm baths. It has been destroyed several 
times and rebuilt ; some ruins of the ancient 
town remain. 

Appii Forum, a city fifty-six miles from Rome 
designated the "Market-place of Appius," was 
convenient for travellers. Apia Via was the 
most celebrated of the Roman highways, and 



296 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

was begun by Appius Claudius Caecus when he 
was censor, B. c. 319. It passed through Appii 
Forum and was the great line of communication 
between southern Italy and Rome. 

The Three Taverns, about eight or ten miles 
nearer Rome than Appii Forum, is supposed to 
have received its name on account of its being a 
place of refreshment on the Appian Way. A 
large number of Christians from Rome went to 
meet Paul of whom they had heard so much, but 
a part of this company remained at Three Tav- 
erns, while the others went to the capital with 
the prisoner. 

"When they arrived at Rome, the centurion de- 
livered the prisoners to the captain of the guard 
or commander of the Pretorian cohort, w^hose 
name was Burrhus Afranius according to Tacitus, 
but Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with a 
soldier to whom he was chained. The apostle 
seems to have won the respect and favor of 
every one who had charge of him. 

Three days after the arrival of the apostle at 
Rome, he sent for the leading men among the 
Jews of that city, that he might explain his case 
to them. He may have had two objects in view; 
— one being to state that the charges against him 
were false, and the other, to explain to them the 
gospel of Christ. It was to be expected thq Jews 
at Cesarea would send to those at Rome reports 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 297 

unfavorable to Paul, therefore he wished to de- 
fend himself against such calumny. He begins, 
" Men and brethren," his usual method when ad- 
dressing his countrymen, " though I have done no 
wrong to my people or to the customs of our 
fathers, yet I was delivered a prisoner to the Ro- 
mans who, after an examination would have ac- 
quitted me, but the Jews being decidedly op- 
posed to it, I appealed to Caesar, therefore I wished 
to give you the reason why I am bound with this 
chain." The Jews of Rome replied, " That they 
had not received any letters from Judea concern- 
ing him, neither had any one said anything 
against him." Why the Jews of Palestine had 
not sent unfavorable reports to those of Eome, 
is not revealed, but it may have been they con- 
sidered their efforts unavailing since Paul had 
been acquitted successively by Lysias, Felix, 
Festus, and Agrippa. The Jews of Rome seemed 
more liberal than those of Judea, and they 
wished to know what Paul thought of the new 
sect everywhere spoken against. 

The apostle had been allowed to rent a house 
which he occupied and where he received his 
friends and other visitors. His countrymen ap- 
pointed a day when they would come to his house 
to hear him on the subject before mentioned. 
When the time arrived, a large number assem- 
bled at his residence to whom he explained the 



298 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

principles of the Christian religion, and endeav- 
ored to convince them that Jesus was the 
Messiah, proving his assertions from the law of 
Moses and the prophets ; this he continued from 
morning until evening. Some of the Jews be- 
lieved, while others rejected his teachings which 
led the preacher to quote the language of Isaiah, 
" Go to this people and say, ' Hearing ye shall 
hear and shall not understand,' etc. 'Know 
therefore that salvation is sent unto the Gentiles, 
and they will hear.' " 

Paul lived two years in his hired house at 
Rome preaching the gospel, no one forbidding 
him, and several persons were converted, includ- 
ing members of the emperor's court. When a 
prisoner at Rome, the church at Philippi sent 
Epaphroditus to Paul with contributions for the 
supply of his wants. During his confinement, he 
was the means of the conversion of Onesimus, a 
fugitive slave of Philemon of Colosse in Phrygia, 
whom the apostle sent back with an epistle to 
Philemon and the church at that place. 

This closes Luke's account of the eminent 
apostle to the Gentiles, but tradition and secular 
history combined, give an account of the closing 
scenes of his life. 

In 64 A. d., a dreadful fire occurred at Rome 
which continued six or seven days. It is sup- 
posed to have been set by the Emperor Nero 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR. 299 

who, to divert public opinion from himself, 
charged the Christians with the crime, which 
excited a fearfully bloody persecution against 
them. It is supposed that both Paul and Peter 
suffered martyrdom at this time, the former by 
beheading, the latter by crucifixion. Paul being 
a Koman citizen, it was not lawful to put him to 
death on the cross. The traditions of the early 
Christians confirm this idea. Paul and Peter 
occupy the first positions among the apostles, 
Paul more especially represents the Christian 
Gentiles, and Peter the converted Jews. The 
scenes in the life of Paul have afforded numerous 
subjects for artists. 

The Scripture account of Paul begins with his 
presence at the martyrdom of Stephen, and closes 
with his release from an imprisonment of two 
years at Eome, but it is conjectured that after he 
was set free, he returned to Jerusalem, travelled 
through Asia Minor, and other countries for- 
merly visited, and then returned to Eome, was 
imprisoned a second time and beheaded by order 
of the Emperor Nero, during a general persecu- 
tion of Christians. 

Paul as a writer has been considered by some 
critics difficult to understand. It is said that his 
intellectual powers combined the peculiarities of 
all the other sacred writers: as Moses, David, 
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, James, John, and Peter, \ 



300 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

etc. "He possessed," it is said, "great argumen- 
tative power, depth of thought, and intensity of 
feeling. His style is often abrupt and sometimes 
obscure, and his reasoning is sometimes involved 
owing to his sudden transitions, the rush of ideas, 
and sensibility. He sometimes seems to be carried 
away by the fervor and loftiness of his emotions. 
The writings of Paul may be compared to a rich 
mine, and the deeper the workman digs the more 
he will discover of the precious metal." 

It seems wonderful that the apostle, with his 
extensive journeys, his arduous labors in preach- 
ing the gospel and establishing churches in many 
different places, his persecutions and physical suf- 
ferings, could possibly find the time or could con- 
centrate his thoughts, for writing his numerous 
epistles. 

Thirteen epistles are attributed to Paul as the 
author, and are arranged in the following order 
of place, according to the Sacred Scriptures. 
They were written at different periods and from 
different cities visited by their author. 

The Epistle to the Romans, comprising sixteen 
chapters, was written from Corinth, 58 A. D. 
The leading idea is " Justification by faith." 

First Corinthians, with sixteen chapters, writ- 
ten at Ephesus, 57 A. d. The chief object was 
Jo correct errors in the church at that place. 

Second Corinthians, thirteen chapters, sent 



THE ELOQUENT ORATOR, 301 

from Philippi, 57 A. D. The author encourages 
the disciples and vindicates his own character. 

Galatians, with six chapters, sent from Ephe- 
sus, 54 A. D. 

Fphesians, six chapters, written at Rome, 62 
a. d. Subject, the power of divine grace. 

Philippians, four chapters. Written at Rome, 
62 A. d. Leading thought — Excellence of Chris- 
tian kindness. 

Colossians, four chapters. Sent from Rome, 
62 a. d. Chief topic, Warning against errors, 
and exhortations to perform duty. 

First Thessalonians, five chapters. Sent from 
Corinth, 53 A. d. Exhortation to continue in the 
faith and godly conversation. 

Second Thessalonians, three chapters. Athens, 
53 A. d. Its purpose was to correct an error 
about the second advent of Christ. 

First Timothy, six chapters. Written from 
Macedonia, 67 a. d. Instructions about the duty 
of a pastor, and encouragement in the work of 
the ministry. 

Second Timothy, four chapters. Written at 
Rome, in prison, 68 a. d. Leading topic the 
same as in First Timothy. 

Titus, three chapters. Sent from Nicopolis in 
Macedonia. The prominent thought, encourage- 
ment in the discharge of pastoral duties. 

Philemon, one chapter. Written from Rome, 



302 BIBLE CHARACTERS. 

62 A. d. The idea was to conciliate a master in 
reference to his slave who had escaped. 

Hebrews, thirteen chapters. Written to the 
Hebrews, from Italy. Its leading topic— Christ 
and the ceremonial law. 

There has been some difference of opinion 
among commentators in regard to the authorship 
of this epistle, but it is now generally conceded 
that it was the work of Paul, but the date is 
uncertain. 



JUL 26 1900 



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